Chapter XIX: A Lesson in Humility
After calling Kazui and informing him of the movements of the Hero Killer, Kaina Tsutsumi, otherwise known as Lady Nagant, was still feeling a little troubled by the vigilante's movements. So, she decided to investigate Hero Killer's current whereabouts and monitor his movements.
Formerly known as Stendhal, The Hero Killer: Stain is a rising figure in the seedy underbelly of the hero world whose modus was targeting heroes he suspects to be abusing their status. Many have already fallen since his first appearance and those who tried to apprehend him have failed at the cost of their lives.
The idea itself made Kaina chuckle. A man claiming himself as a hero killer is on the loose at the same time as the infamous Hollow who was notorious for murdering villains. Two conflicting ideologies that she had no doubt would clash one day.
Skillfully jumping over the rooftops of Hosu, Nagant couldn't help but find it ironic that someone like herself who is labeled by society as a villain was spared when she came face-to-face with the individual who's basically the boogieman of the underworld. She was still employed by the Hero Commission, and they had painted a target at the villain as mentioned above hunter. It was her last mission before she went rogue and it was all thanks to the Villain Hunter… no, Kazui Kurosaki. He saved her from living a life as a weapon of a corrupt organization.
Their first meeting was something she'll never forget. Even now, the sniper can still remember how Kazui caught her bullet and changed her life.
*****Flashback*****
Kaina perched herself comfortably at the top of an abandoned building. She twirled her left index finger on her blue and purple hair. This was a habit she developed due to the nature of her Quirk. Raising her right elbow, the joint opened to reveal a metallic gun barrel extending its length.
Her Quirk is known as Rifle and rightfully so. Trained extensively in the art of marksmanship, Kaina had become an instrument of the HPSC in their crusade to preserve the status quo, muddling her once optimistic view on heroism into a fragile façade. Was there even any point to all of this?
Kaina already had a growing list of victims whom the commission deemed a threat to the illusion of stability they established. She hated it… so much. The people who fell to her gun weren't just villains but also individuals that those bastards deemed a threat to the lie they created despite their clear innocence.
Now, Lady Nagant was on another mission, this time to eliminate a figure that's been steadily collecting bodies since his appearance.
"The Hollow," she muttered.
Looking down at the dossier provided to her by the commission, there wasn't much about this boy's identity other than his age being around thirteen years old and that he has multiple Quirks.
"Now that's a scary thought…" she mused. People with multiple Quirks were extremely rare and valuable to the HSPC if they got the person in question to do their bidding. However, it was clear that the boy known as the Hollow wouldn't want to work for those power-hungry snakes. They won't be able to control him.
That's why she was here to eliminate him.
Putting down her binoculars and looking down the barrel of her rifle while aiming its iron sight at her target, Lady Nagant could see the Hollow in action, and suffice it to say, what she was seeing made her blood run cold.
The boy was completely ruthless. A hundred meters away from her perch, the Hollow was busy cutting down an entire gang of molesters without a lick of mercy. Judging by how he carries himself, Nagant could deduce that this kid was an expert swordsman who could probably put individuals like Stendhal and Yoroi Musha on retirement watch.
"Damn shame, though." She meant every word she uttered. Someone as skilled and young as this kid would've been a terrific hero but the commission sees him as a threat to the illusion they created.
The sniper took a lock of her hair which twisted in a pointed projectile before inserting it into the opening in her hand. Leaning into her rifle, the Hollow just finished the last of the molesters when he pulled his sword out of his victim's lifeless body. Kaina had the Hollow in her sights; all that was left was to pull the trigger.
Seconds ticked by while she waited for the opportunity. It didn't take long for the said opportunity to present itself when her target sheathed his blade. When the katana was fully hidden in its scabbard, that's when she pulled the trigger.
Lady Nagant's aim was spot on as her bullet sailed through the air at great speeds. She sighed in sadness that another soul had to die to keep up this lie. However, when she looked at the young vigilante once more, her eyes grew wide in shock at what she saw.
The bullet she fired was now resting snugly between the index and middle finger of the Hollow.
"SHIT!" Kaina thought aloud. There were only a few people she could think of at the top of her head who could catch her bullets, and they happened to be among the top ten. This was not what she was expecting.
Suddenly, her danger senses went on high alert. Her instincts were shouting at her to tilt her head to the side and when she did, the bullet she had shot earlier went passed her. The skin on her cheek was nicked and a small drop of blood came out of it.
"What the Hell!?" she shrieked in alarm. Anxious and afraid, Kaina looked through her binoculars again only to find the space occupied by the Hollow to be empty. "Wait, where is he!?" before she could even move, a garbled voice came from behind her.
"Sai."
A constricting sensation wrapped around Kaina's body. She winced as her motor functions were hindered and useless before falling on the cold rooftop. "What's happening?"
"A binding spell to keep you from moving."
Flinching upon hearing the distorted voice, the sniper slowly tilted her head to its source. There, her eyes came to see the infamous Hollow in all his glory, and suffice it to say, she was outright terrified.
The vigilante was indeed a teen, roughly around fourteen years old, wearing a mix of white tunic and black robes. What caught her attention though, was the mask he was wearing. Porcelain white in color, it was like a skull mask with jagged teeth lining what is supposed to be the mouth. Two thick lines, both dark red in hue, ran from the forehead down the eyeholes and the jaw until they ended at the chin.
Gold demonic eyes swimming in black stared through a pair of eyeholes, their gaze directly at the sniper. As for said sniper, it felt like those yellow orbs were looking directly at her soul. Half-lidded and narrowed, those eyes drew closer as the Hollow crouched to her height.
Kaina had no idea what to do. This wasn't the first time she was caught but she always managed to escape before she was found. Now, however, she was at the mercy of a young serial killer who targets villains. With her actions, she might as well be labeled as a villain.
"What are you gonna— mphhh?" Her words were cut short when a pale white hand with sharp nails gripped her mouth. Eyes wide, Lady Nagant could only look in horror as the Hollow raised a finger close to the jagged jaw of his mask, telling her to keep quiet.
*****Flashback End*****
Reminiscing that encounter made her shiver. Yes, that night was pure nightmare fuel for her. However, that night also served as a turning point in her life that led her to become an ally with a god.
Seriously, who knew the kid as a fucking god?
In a world filled with superpowers and superheroes, it was a definite surprise for the former hitwoman of the commission that an entity such as Kazui Kurosaki existed, let alone the fact that he was a god of death!
But that didn't matter now. Because of Kazui, she was free from the clutches of the commission and is now doing her best to both atone for the crimes she committed and expose the deception the HPSC has established.
-o0o-
A little while later, she stopped her run on a five-story apartment overlooking one of the major streets of Hosu. Intel provided by one of her informants said that Stain was in the city hunting for more heroes. While there were plenty of victims for the sword-wielding vigilante, there was one specific hero who could potentially be a prime target.
Ingenium.
The man was known to be a respectable hero among the community. Coming from a wealthy yet humble family, the title of Ingenium is passed down from generation to generation with the current holder being Tensei Īda, the oldest of the Īda brothers.
Kaina had to admit that the current Ingenium was honest in his wish to help the populace, even going as far as establishing a charity organization funded through his own pocket.
The world needed more heroes like him. Sadly, the Hero Killer failed to see that part of the Turbo Hero and only the prestige he thinks the Īda family doesn't deserve.
"Damn fool."
Looking through her binoculars, she found Ingenium running through the streets seemingly chasing someone into an alley far off any major routes. This was bad and Lady Lagant knew it. One of Stain's primary modus is to lure his victims into secluded areas where he won't be interrupted. Her suspicions growing, she decided to quickly follow the speedster.
It was a good thing that there wasn't much distance between buildings, making it easier to traverse the city via the rooftops to avoid any civilians noticing her. It took a while, but she finally made it to the location. However, she was a few seconds too late as Stain had hindered Ingenium immobile.
Kaina needed to act fast. Ingenium didn't have any major injuries aside from a few cuts but that could all change. Changing her arm into its rifle form, she quickly loaded a bullet into its chamber and aimed at the Hero Killer. Finding her shot, she pulled the trigger.
*CLANG*
"Gaaagh!" Letting go of his weapon, the Hero Killer clutched his hand while furiously looking around for the shooter. Tilting his head up, his eyes narrowed at the visage of Lady Nagant loading another bullet into her arm rifle.
Stain knew who this person was and the infamy she had when it came to her shooting skills. At this distance, he was at a disadvantage. He jumped back just in time to avoid another shot coming from the sniper. The vigilante growled in annoyance that his prospect would be able to escape but he could always come back to finish the job later on.
Another two shots rang which he narrowly avoided. Seeing no point in staying any longer, Stain picked up his sword and made his escape.
As for the sniper, Kaina retracted her weapon and made her way down the building she was currently in. Once she was on the ground, she quickly went to inspect the downed Ingenium for any injuries.
For his part, he was lucky that someone came just in time to save him from who-knows-what Stain had planned. However, when he saw his rescuer, he was surprised.
"Wait, you're—"
"I know," interrupted Nagant. "I'm the last person you'd expect to show up and save your ass."
While he was indeed shocked by the woman's sudden appearance, he did feel relieved that it was her.
While few people know this, the circumstances behind Kaina Tsutsumi's turn to vigilantism weren't lost to Ingenium. He was one of the few who voiced his displeasure toward the HPSC for their unjust treatment of her.
"Thanks, Nagant," he said sincerely. "I'm kind of surprised to find you here in the open and in the middle of the day, no less."
"Don't mention it," she replied. Seeing as there was nothing else to do, she decided to leave. But, before she could get far, Nagant was posed a question by the one she saved.
"Why now?"
Kaina turned to look at Ingenium.
"Why show yourself now after a year? You've been in hiding ever since you were nearly captured. What made you come out of the shadows?"
The answer was simple. "I owe someone a favor," was all she said before walking away.
Seconds later, Ingenium's came all worried about him. The Turbo Hero wanted to follow the disgraced heroine and question her further but went against it. Lady Nagant was still wanted by the commission; chasing after her would put the woman in danger.
The least he could do was keep her involvement in his rescue a secret.
Mina sent a light-hearted punch to Kazui's shoulder. She wanted to smile wider than what her face could do with what just transpired earlier. The other girls, more so Hagakure, were just as enthusiastic about this. After all, it isn't every day that two of your classmates decide to kiss and confess their feelings to each other in front of a live audience while being broadcast around the world with billions of people watching.
"You sly devil you," the pink girl said between giggles. "I knew something was going on between you, but I never expected THAT to happen!"
The couple in question were bashfully looking away from their classmates, both sporting furious blushes. However, that didn't stop them from having their fingers laced together.
Far out back, Class 1-A's resident pervert was shouting to the high heavens in frustration and denial.
"Why!?" he cried. "Why did the hottest chick in the class go to the hottest guy in the class!?" However, a tongue wrapped around Mineta's head and slammed him to the ground.
"Please keep quiet, Mineta. We don't need you to voice out your frustration when we knew this was coming from a mile away," said Tsuyu.
The other boys, however, were congratulating their class president for doing something so, in Kirishima's words, manly.
"Damn, class rep!" Sato exclaimed while slinging an arm around the gingerhead. "I know I speak for every boy in class that none of us have the balls to pull something like what you did."
"Thanks… I think?" Kazui couldn't figure out if that was a compliment.
"Momo! You got to tell us how this all started!" Hagakure was giddy if her floating gym clothes were to go by.
"Well… you see… Kazui and I were…" Momo was a stuttering mess with all this attention on her. Let's not forget that she just had one of her most intimate moments with her now-boyfriend shown around the world.
"While I congratulate the two of you for finally entering a relationship, what you two did in front of millions of people was both inappropriate and scandalous!"
As per usual, Īda reprimanded the two for doing something that was otherwise a private moment in public.
"Oh, chill out, Īda," Jirō interjected. "Although, doing something like that in public is pretty embarrassing." There was a faint blush on her cheeks since having herself in that situation would be mortifying.
"Well, ladies and gents; that was sure an emotional ending to the second round! I can safely say that Kurosaki is the luckiest kid in the world!"
"Mic, try to recap the actual fight and not the finish."
"Of course, we shouldn't forget the spectacular battle they just had! Heck, I was speechless during the whole match. Seriously, kids nowadays, especially our recent competitors, would give any current hero a run for their money in terms of combat skill."
"That kind of level in martial arts is something rarely seen nowadays. Most heroes would just focus on their Quirks or supplement their inadequacies with support gear. Rarely you would see individuals who even dabble in martial arts. What we witnessed right now is the testament to how much the old ways are still relevant even during the Age of Quirks."
"You said it, Eraserhead! But now, onto the participants who will proceed to the semi-finals!" The jumbotron lit up again, showing the images of the semi-finalists. "Here they are, folks; our semi-finalists. We have Tenya Īda who pushed aside his competition in the most gentlemanly way possible, Katsuki Bakugō whose explosions were too much for his opponent's defenses, Izuku Midoriya who blew away his competition's fire, and finally, Kazui Kurosaki who battled his now-girlfriend in a match of pure skill that resulted in his victory more ways than one!"
Hearing that, the aforementioned pair grew bashful, prompting Momo to hide her face in the chest of an equally flustered Kazui.
"Before a short break, let's see the potential match-ups for the next round!"
The names of the four competitors flashed at random on the gigantic screen. Seconds ticked by and the tension among the remaining participants grew as their anticipation as to who will be their opponent in the next round will be.
Finally, the randomization stopped, showing the two pairs that fight it out later on.
Izuku Midoriya vs. Tenya Īda
Katsuki Bakugō vs. Kazui Kurosaki
The names have been set. The four individuals stared at each other with a mix of emotions ranging from determination, and patience, to hatred and loathing.
You can guess who the last one is…
"There you have it, folks! With the match-ups now decided, we're going on a thirty-minute break. So, grab some snacks and drinks while you have the time because I bet my vinyl collection that the semi-finals are gonna get intense!"
"Katsuki, what's the matter with you!?" Mitsuki's voice held both anger and disappointment. "The girl wasn't fighting anymore! Why the fuck did you kept on using your Quirk on her!?"
"Shut up, Old Hag!" Katsuki yelled back. "It was a match, so I had every right to use my Quirk to get the win!"
"Not if it means you're hurting others in the process," Masaru retorted calmly.
"It's part of the match, old man!"
"There's a difference between fighting and intentionally hurting someone," countered the father. He had his arms crossed while looking sternly at his volatile son. "We understand that injuries were inevitable in this competition, but you took it too far. You should've ended the match when she no longer fought back."
"…And what, let her get away for sullying my performance?" Katsuki was growing irritated with his parents. "Besides, heroes always win regardless. I just showed her that I'm a better hero than she is!"
Mitsuki threw her hands up in frustration. "Unbelievable! Are you hearing yourself? That's not how heroes are supposed to be!"
"It is! Heroes always win! All Might always win, so I should always win as well!"
"That's not how heroism works, Katsuki. It's about protecting the weak and keeping the peace," Masaru corrected. However, his son simply scoffed at the idea.
"They could just roll over for all I care. I'm not going to bother with some useless extras that can't even look after themselves. I couldn't care less about the stepping stones that would make me the number one hero."
"Damn it, kid. Ever since you got your Quirk, your attitude's become worse," said Mitsuki.
"No, this is the attitude of a winner," countered the Explosion boy. "And I'm gonna prove it when I beat that ginger-haired freak to the ground." Fed up with the admonishing he was receiving, Katsuki stood up and went for the door. "I'm going to win and become number one. Watch me."
Turning the knob, Katsuki left his parents staring at the door and then at each other, questioning where they had gone wrong in raising him.
-{}-
At the same time, the three friends consisting of Kazui, Izuku, and Tenya were waiting in one of the facility lounges waiting for the break period to end. Momo was with them as well, though her presence was to provide comfort for her boyfriend, not that he needed it.
"I must say, this is quite the turn of events," Īda said while taking a sip of orange juice. "While I never expected to reach the semi-finals, I am happy nonetheless."
"You should be, Tenya," said Kazui. He was sitting comfortably on a folding chair. Next to him, Momo was resting her head on his shoulder. "You managed to reach this point despite the tough competition. Pat yourself on the back."
"Yeah, Tenya," Izuku agreed. "You deserve to be here with the hard work you put in."
"Thank you, Midoriya," replied the speedster with a smile. "That said, don't expect me to go easy on you during our match."
This declaration made the inheritor of Limitless chuckle. "I wouldn't dream of it."
"By the way, how is Uraraka?" Momo raised, gaining the attention of the three. "Has her condition improved?"
"Well, she won't be waking up anytime soon, but she is okay." That made Izuku's mood go down a bit. He wanted his best friend to watch his final two matches but sadly, it was best to let her recover after the ordeal she went through.
"She'll be fine, Izuku," the heiress assured. "Recovery Girl is watching over her, so we don't need to worry too much about her when she's in the care of Japan's foremost medical heroine."
"I guess you're right."
Suddenly, Tenya's phone started ringing. "Oh, excuse me. Please, let me answer this." Politely excusing himself, he exited the room to answer this call.
-{}-
"Hello. Mother, I wasn't expecting a call until a little later."
"Tenya, please listen to me," his mother said with enough panic in her voice to alarm the youngest of the Īda boys. "I hope this won't trouble you considering you're in the semi-finals, but knowing you, you'd rather hear this now than later."
"Mother, what's wrong?"
"It's Tensei." Tenya's mother paused to calm herself. "He was in Hosu City chasing the Hero Killer."
Upon hearing that name, Tenya's blood ran cold. The antithesis to the Hollow had an encounter with his brother. However, his worst fears came through when his mother continued.
"He confronted Stain and got hurt. He's in Hosu General right now."
"Mother, what's big brother's condition? Is he all right? Did Stain do something to—"
"Tenya, please calm down. Despite the harrowing encounter with the Hero Killer, your brother is fine. We just forced him to bedrest out of worry."
Tenya released a breath he didn't know he held. "Thank goodness. Mother, please tell Father to pick me up right now."
"But Tenya! What about your match? You've worked so hard to reach the semi-finals; to just drop out like this."
"Family comes first, Mother. That's been one of our principles. I know it seems like a waste to forfeit my match, but this matters more than a competition. Besides, I don't think I'll need the attention when I'll just intern under Tensei anyway."
That made his mother chuckle. "Well, I can't argue with that." She eventually sighed. "Alright. Your father would be there in ten minutes or so."
"Thank you, Mother. I'll see you soon."
"Goodbye, son, and congratulations."
"Yeah." Ending the call, Tenya let out a heavy breath. This was not how he thought his day would go. To think his brother would be attacked by the infamous Hero Killer in broad daylight. He needed to get there – to be on his brother's side. However, he couldn't just leave without informing the officials of his decision or keeping his friends in the dark.
It was decided then that staying close to his brother was more important than the competition. After all, there is always next year. So, he turned around and re-entered the lounge to inform the trio inside of his decision.
The break period has finally ended. The seats that were momentarily vacated were once again filled with eager spectators for the start of the semi-final matches. The previous matches, especially the first and last from the second round proved to be exhilarating and they hoped to get another taste of blood-pumping suspense and action.
"Welcome back folks to the start of the semi-finals!" As expected, the crowd cheered in anticipation. "I know you're eager to get your money's worth for this festival but I'm afraid that there have been some complications." The audience went silent out of confusion. "Earlier, contestant Tenya Īda had withdrawn from the competition, thereby making Izuku Midoriya the first finalist of this festival."
There was no surprise when the present festivalgoers voiced their displeasure. Luckily, their current mood was also fickle.
"However, that doesn't mean this next match won't be any less amazing! After all, this bout features the kid that's the very definition of an asspull while his opponent is a ticking time bomb!"
Erupting into a fit of laughter, the audience was once again invested in the match despite only having one to spectate for the semi-finals.
"Now, that's what I like to hear! So, how about we get this started!" The roar of excitement urged Present Mic to continue. "First up, we have the boy who put up one of the best performances as well as the BEST conclusion to any match, period. Give it up for Class 1-A's jack-of-all-trades, Kazui Kurosaki!"
The boy emerged from the shadows of the hallway with eyes steeled in determination. Earlier, Tenya had revealed that he would forfeit his match with Izuku because of the incident with Ingenium and Stain. Understanding his predicament, he, his girlfriend, and Midoriya let the youngest Īda go to be with his family. This leaves him facing Bakugō earlier than expected. However, it wasn't much of a complication since he was certain that he would win. It was how he would go about gaining said victory over the angry dog—a question posed by Izuku to which he answered:
"I'm going to kill him…"
He wouldn't go that far but what he intended to do might as well be that.
"And our next contestant, his explosions have propelled him through the ranks of the competition, sending them away in a blaze of fury, let's hear it for Katsuki Bakugō!"
The reception toward the explosive boy was less compared to his enemy. It irked him that these people don't recognize potential even if it was close to them. He'll show them, however, that if there's anyone who deserves to be number one, it's him.
"Here it is, folks! With our contestants in the arena, I'll leave the reigns to Midnight!"
"Thanks, Present Mic." The dominatrix eyed the two contestants. It wasn't visible but there was clear animosity between the two contestants. "I want this match fair and clean, boys. Understand?"
"No promises," Kazui answered. Meanwhile, Bakugō merely growled.
Sighing, Midnight could only mutter, "Well, that's the best that I can get. With both contestants ready, let the semi-final match," she raised her whip high, "BEGIN!"
No sooner did the match start when Bakugō pounced on Kazui like a vicious animal. "Die, you fucking freak!"
However, Kazui deflected the incoming attack using the back of his hand to swat it away.
Enraged, the ash-blonde bomber resumed his attack but, to his surprise, Kazui suddenly grabbed his outstretched hand and planted his own onto the explosive boy's stomach.
"Sho."
A powerful pulse vibrated throughout Katsuki's body, rendering him immobile just long enough for Kazui to cast another Kidō spell.
Tucked snugly in the garter of his gym pants, the young reaper took out two chips with patches of ink in the middle. He threw the tiny objects and muttered under his breath.
"Tenteikura."
The chips began floating in the air, releasing their inky contents, and grafting strange patterns on the forearms of both Kazui and Katsuki.
"What the…!?" Having pried his arm away from the hybrid's grip, it was already too late as the chips had completed their purpose. "What is this!? What did you do to me!?"
"It's called Tenteikura," began the reaper. "It's a specific type of Kidō that allows mass communication based on the caster's intended target. The only downside is that it's one-way, meaning the receiver can't reply." A smirk graced his face as he spread his arms wide, gesturing to the people filling the stadium and watching their match. "And the entire stadium happens to be the receiver of this spell."
-{}-
"Did I hear it right?" Kaminari asked his classmates. "He said it was a spell, right? Tell me I'm not the only one who heard that."
"You're not," Jirō confirmed. "But you'd be a fool to think it's magic. Remember, Kurosaki has one of the most versatile Quirks, and he has exceptional control over it that it may as well be magic."
"I guess you're right. But why did he say 'spell' instead of 'technique' or 'skill'?"
"You raise a good point, Kaminari," nodded Tokoyami. "That said, it could be just his way of adding flair to his Quirk."
"Still, to think he could manipulate his energy to transmit messages," said Tsuyu in wonder.
While their classmates were busy commenting on their friend's abilities, Momo and Izuku watched this match intently. They both knew that something had to be done with Bakugō's destructive attitude.
A small part of the latter's mind wished that he be the one to instill some humility in his former friend. However, the thought of it didn't sound right to him. For Izuku, it would look like he was taking revenge for what the Explosion user had done to Uraraka. Yes, he had power now to rival Katsuki Bakugō, but he would be the better man and not stoop to the bully's level.
That said, the greenette would be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to this. No doubt an influence from his mischievous mentor.
-{}-
"What the Hell are you planning?" questioned Bakugō in a tone that's a mixture of anger and confusion.
"A lesson, Bakugō," Kazui answered; tone cool and calm. "A lesson in humility that you should've learned long before you got into UA."
"Huh? What the fuck are you yapping on about?"
"I'm saying that your view on heroism is wrong. It's not about power, or fame, or winning."
"I don't need your damn lecture or your damn opinion!" If there was one thing Katsuki didn't like, it was people questioning his views on being a hero. Who were they to tell him he was wrong? None have ever told him otherwise, so why would he listen to his detractors? "I'm going to win this match and deal with that damn Deku in the finals."
Kazui sighed in disappointment. He saw this coming, but he had hoped the irate boy would at least listen. "So be it, then. This is your choice; so, prepare to get a wake-up call."
"Not if I blow up first!" Lunging at Kazui, Bakugō performed a volley of explosions on the reaper. However, his attacks were all expertly evaded, making him more and more irritated. "Damn it! Stay still!"
Kazui ducked under the explosion, then grabbed the outstretched hand before elbowing the ash blonde in the sternum. his opponent doubling over, the young transcendent took a few steps back to let him recover.
Kazui was far from finished with him.
"I have a lot to say about you, Bakugō, and most of it isn't wonderful given the kind of person you are." He continued as the ash blonde recovered from the hit to the gut. "It's all about you, isn't it?"
"And why shouldn't it be?" Bakugō questioned back. "Why shouldn't it be about me who'd one day become the number one?"
"And again, you completely missed the point," Kazui answered. "I'm not sure how your parents raised you, but I'm certain they never once put their foot down on that ego of yours."
"Fuck you!"
"Exactly my point. You're so full of yourself that you think it's all about you when it's not. That's not what heroism is. You're only seeing this as a popularity contest while completely dismissing what it truly means to be a hero."
Growing more furious at the gingerhead, Bakugō roared and launched himself forward using his explosions. Once he reached his target, he threw in two powerful explosions. Having made no attempt at dodging, Kazui's figure vanished in the blaze and smoke thanks to Katsuki's Quirk. This made the ash blonde smirk in satisfaction.
However, upon the smoke clearing, Bakugō's grin turned into shock when his victim stood unscathed, protected by a barrier with blue grid-like veins.
"Somehow, you got it stuck inside your head that only you matter." Kazui deactivated his Blut Vene Anhaben, yet he did not cease voicing his opinion regarding the violent classmate. "You love to gloat about how your Quirk is the best and that everybody else is shit compared to you, considering them merely as stepping stones in your ascent to the top of the hero industry. But then, the moment you see someone who would remotely present a challenge to your goals, you immediately squash them even when they have nothing against you."
"Shut up!" His anger growing, Bakugō resumed his onslaught of explosions to shut this freak up. He relentlessly threw explosion after explosion without pause. "Of course, I'd put them in their place! I'm the only one who has the right to become number one! Anyone who thinks they can take that spot from me is going to get stepped on under my boot like a fucking pebble!"
Kazui stood in place, letting his volatile classmate pelt him with a multitude of blasts while under the protection of his hereditary defenses.
"Just die!" Right when he was about to throw in another explosion, a hand suddenly shot out from the cloud of smoke, grabbing his right hand before he could thrust it forward.
"So, that's it." The smoke cleared to reveal, again, an unharmed Kazui. "I guess the only way for you to recognize your faults is through force!"
It was the reaper's turn to attack. He pulled Bakugō closer to him and struck a knee into his abdomen. He followed it up with a savage elbow to the ash blonde's back before pulling on his hair and throwing him across the arena.
"I have to admit, you might just be the fourth… fifth strongest in Class 1-A; that is a fact. However, you seem to have it in your head that your power is the only thing that matters; that it's the only fact that matters."
"BECAUSE IT IS!"
"No. That's the reality you see when in truth, others exceed you in that category. Case in point, Midoriya and me."
"Oh, yeah? Why don't I blow up your trap just to prove how much shit you're talking?"
"Then stop talking and start attacking."
Taking that as an invitation, Katsuki once again went on the offensive, this time being more creative by using his explosion to maneuver around Kazui while attacking him with a barrage of powerful blasts. Still, it infuriated him that the reaper's words were somehow gnawing in his mind. He hated it. He hated it so much that he wanted to blow it away by annihilating the one who said it.
"You're all talk, freak!" he shouted. "This just shows that my power is reality if you can't even prove that you're stronger than me like you claim!"
"You haven't proven anything, Bakugō…"
Gasping in shock, the ash-blonde bomber took a step back when his onslaught of explosions amounted to nothing as Kazui emerged still unscathed.
"How!?" he questioned the hybrid. "Those explosions were much stronger than the ones it used to beat Shitty Hair!"
"I just told you the answer earlier; I'm stronger."
"That's a lie! Your Quirk has to have a weakness! You're not supposed to be strong enough to tank my explosions like this!"
"You've heard what I said and saw that your attacks did not affect me, and you call me a liar? Are you that delusional that you can't even accept what's in front of you?"
"SHUT UP!" He didn't want to believe it. Katsuki Bakugō was always the best and the strongest. Nobody should deserve the title of number one other than him! "I am gonna prove that I'm the strongest and that I'm the only one who deserves to be number one!"
Before Bakugō could resume his rage-filled attack, Kazui closed in on him and grabbed his face. Eyes wide, what followed next was pain at the back of his head while the sky was in front of him.
"GAAAH!"
After slamming his opponent into the arena floor, Kazui pulled back at took a few steps away from the Explosion user. "Face it, Bakugō. That was just a taste of what I could do. To be honest, I could've ended this match in ten seconds flat. However, I aim to teach you a lesson and I'm not gonna stop until you get it through your thick skull."
"Damn, you," said Bakugō as he tried to stand. "No fucking way in Hell can you beat me that fast."
"That was barely a demonstration," clarified Kazui. "Your mind may not want to accept such revelations, but deep down there's a voice in your head whispering, 'Accept it; it's the truth.'"
The more Kazui spoke, the more Katsuki wanted to shut him up permanently. However, what he said right now made that gnawing feeling in his mind keep coming back. It made him hesitate for a split second, but that was enough for the hybrid to notice.
"Soon you'll know. Time will help. I feel sorry for your confusion, but this world's never been about truth or lies. In this world, there's only one thing that's worth knowing: hard facts." Kazui pointed a finger at Bakugō and said, "You're strong. I've said it before, but I have to emphasize that it's a fact. However, you seem to have that fact twisted because of your self-centered point of view."
"I told you to SHUT UP!" Katsuki tried to blast Kazui again but the gingerhead dodged. All he got for his troubles was a vicious left hook that was powered by Blut Arterie. A tooth must've dislodged itself after spitting out some blood.
"And that's where the problem arises," Kazui continued, unfazed by his adversary's attempt at attacking him. "Despite this universal truth, people misguidedly choose the facts that appeal to their way of thinking. They're so limited that they can only accept the facts that are comfortable for them; you being one of the best examples.
"You don't like it when someone whom you thought was weak is now strong. You don't like it when someone comes along who is stronger than you. It destroys the reality that you've built."
Kazui didn't break eye contact with Bakugō, not even once. He wanted to look him in the eyes and say these things to him to show just how flawed his views are.
"I knew from how you and Midoriya interacted that there was some hostility between you two. Each time there was a confrontation, you were always the instigator. That was more than enough for me to realize what you are. You're a bully who was the top dog back in middle school.
"Nobody stood up to you all the while getting constantly praised, so that fed into your ego until you got a reality check here in UA. You found out that there are people who could challenge you like me, Momo, or Todoroki. But most of all, you can't accept that your old punching back can fight back. You want to deny things that don't go your way, so you lash out. Am I right, Bakugō?"
Much like earlier, the bomber boy in question wanted nothing more than to shut Kazui up. He wanted to deny these allegations with the most powerful explosion he could muster but, just as he was about to say something, no words came.
"Nothing to say?" asked Kazui rhetorically. "Of course, you don't. All of this is simply a desperate attempt at maintaining your personal power. Realizing that things may not have been what we thought unsettles us; it's overwhelming.
"You don't like it that everything that you believed in… is now unraveling."
-{}-
"Damn," Kaminari remarked after hearing Kazui's words. "He demolished him and everything he stood for."
"No shit," Sero agreed. "I knew class rep was a savage fighter, but I never expected him to be quite savage with words either."
"Is it true, though?" Tsuyu questioned, specifically at Midoriya considering he was mentioned to be Bakugō's middle school classmate. "Did no one ever call him out on his behavior?"
The wielder of Limitless shook his head. "No one did," he answered flatly. He could still remember when his former friend would pick on him for his condition. Even when he'd avoid him, Kaccha—no, Bakugō would seek him out just for fun.
It was a little cruel, and maybe he was getting some of Gojo-sensei's sadistic side, but he was enjoying how Kazui was philosophically demolishing his middle school bully.
-{}-
"Damn it, this is all my fault!" Mitsuki almost shouted. The conversation she and her husband had with their son earlier was enough to indicate that something was wrong with him. "I knew we should've been stricter with his upbringing when he showed signs of getting an ego."
"And it all began when he awakened his Quirk," sighed Masaru. This match was such an eye-opener for him and Mitsuki. "We saw the signs but thought he'd eventually grow out of it. However, nobody ever told us about his behavior during his days at Aldera. He and Mitsuki usually argue but that's just normal banter."
Both husband and wife focused their attention on the match below. While these revelations did give them a reason to become more involved with their son, they couldn't help but feel a certain amount of worry that this battle Katsuki was facing would escalate beyond mere competition.
-{}-
With the mention of Bakugō's behavior during middle school, the principal of UA was reminded of the cover investigation he had initiated regarding Aldera Junior High. Given the information he gathered, there was no surprise that Bakugō turned out this way. It wasn't entirely the volatile teen's fault as the school in question made it its mission to gain more funding and notoriety by making Bakugō its poster boy. That, no doubt, fed into the boy's already inflated ego.
This match will undoubtedly be a turning point for the ash-blonde bomber. Whether he'd learn from it or not would be up to him.
"This is getting more and more interesting," so said the rat supreme.
-{}-
He could hear them—their murmurs… their whispers. At the end of the freak's moral lecture, the audience which was supposed to be cheering for him was now openly questioning him and what he believes as heroism. They were directing looks of disgust and apprehension at him, something that no future number-one hero should experience.
"Why?" he asked himself. "Why are they looking at me like that?"
He knew the reason why, however.
"So what if I put a few people in their place? It's their fault for getting in my way in the first place. Nobody should be number one except me; everybody else is just pebbles I need to step on as I rise to the top."
They should be showering praises on him, not painting him as some thug to be looked down upon. This isn't how a future hero is supposed to be treated.
Bakugō's eyes landed on Kazui. He wanted to blame someone for his current predicament. If it weren't for this freak, then the people wouldn't be looking at him like this.
"You!" shouted the bomber. "You should've just kept your mouth shut, you piece of shit! Now, everyone is looking at me like that!"
"You did that to yourself, Bakugō," retorted the reaper calmly. "This is simply the culmination of all the actions you committed in the past."
"The Hell with you! I'm going to make you pay!" More furious than ever, Katsuki flung himself at the reaper, now fully intending to eliminate Kazui for turning him against everyone. "This is supposed to be my time! My rise to fame! I'm going to kill you for taking that away from me!"
"You have NO idea what it means to kill." Kazui Flash Stepped into Bakugo's view, surprising the Explosion boy. He punched the angry blonde, breaking a few ribs before slamming him into the ground.
Chunks of the arena flew up from the impact. Bakugō felt like his body was shattered from that single punch. However, Kazui wasn't done. the reaper was finished with his lecture, but this was only the beginning.
Grabbing his shirt, Kazui viciously threw his opponent away. He chased the rolling Bakugō like a predator before pouncing on him.
The ash blonde crossed his arms in front of him. Immediately, he felt a searing pain when the gingerhead's punch connected. The reaper didn't stop with just one punch, however. Kazui followed it up with another, then another, and then, another until he was throwing a blinding volley of fists at Bakugō that the strain on the defending boy's forearms was beginning to become excruciating.
Panic came to Katsuki when he saw Kazui coil his right hand into a punch while glowing with red lines. He recognized the color to be strength-enhancing and getting hit would be disastrous. Quickly, he dodged the Blut Arterie-powered punch just in time. The impact shattered that portion of the arena, flinging huge chunks of cement into the sky from the impact of the punch.
Having jumped back, Bakugō winced as he looked at his arms. They both held heavy bruises and were in so much pain. He was still pissed at the young transcendent but going head-to-head with Kazui would be dangerous.
"Damn it!"
"What's the matter, Bakugō?" Kazui asked. He stood up and turned to the panting ash blonde. "Why did you run away?"
Bakugō growled. The tone this punk used was mocking and condescending.
"You think gaining a little distance from me can help you in this fight? No, it won't. Distance only matters when the two people in combat are of equal strength. Do you want proof? Here…"
All it took was a second, and Bakugō felt a pair of fingers on his chest. His eyes went wide; shock and fear gripping his heart when he couldn't even see him move.
"This is how fast I could've ended this fight," Kazui stated. "A blink of an eye and there's nothing you can do about it."
Predictably, Bakugō lashed out in anger and denial. He threw fast jabs, kicks, and explosions at Kazui while expertly maneuvering himself around the gingerhead with his Quirk. The damage his arms received from the onslaught of punches earlier still hurt, but it was nothing compared to his hatred and burning desire to put this freak in his place.
An idea came to mind. As Bakugō kept his attacks, he used a stunning shot at Kazui, temporarily blinding him. This allowed the bomber to charge up his strongest blast. Hand forward and sweat dripping in his palms, he yelled with so much venom at Kazui.
"DIE! HOWITZER IMPACT!"
Kazui's figure disappeared in a powerful explosion, rivaling the one that nearly obliterated Uraraka's meteor shower. The shockwave from the blast was felt throughout the audience, making them cover their faces from any dust that was blown away.
Thinking he had won, imagine his surprise when a hand suddenly shot through the smoke and grabbed his face. The next thing he knew, his nose felt the hard bone of someone's kneecap.
Swiping his hand, Kazui blew the smoke away, revealing his body exposed. His shirt was blasted to pieces due to the explosion but thanks to Hierro, he was unharmed.
He closed in on Bakugō with such speed that he was there in an instant. A glowing red fist embedded itself into Katsuki's gut, lifting the teen a few feet in the air. The reaper quickly followed it up with a right hook to the left rib section, then a hammer fist causing the ash blonde to bounce on the arena, and finally, he tossed the aching Bakugō like a ragdoll.
Unfortunately for the Explosion user, Kazui chased him once again, showing just how relentless the young god of death is. The gingerhead jumped and crashed into where Bakugō was. He grabbed his head and began dragging him across the arena before finally throwing him.
Katsuki rolled helplessly yet he stopped right before he went out of bounds. He tried to stand up, but his body was screaming at him to stop because of the immense pain he was feeling. When he looked up, Kazui was forming a spear-like beam of energy in his hand. The son of the Transcendent twirled the weapon and fell into a throwing position.
"I'll show you what a real explosion looks like. Lanza de Luz Devastadora!"
The spear of shattering light flew, blitzing through the arena as it got closer to Bakugō. The boy in question jumped out of the way and the spear flew passed him. It changed its trajectory all of a sudden, now flying into the sky. It ascended into the heavens piercing through the clouds before…
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted from the light spear, lighting the sky in a fiery blaze of white radiance that parted the clouds and sent a powerful shockwave that wasn't just felt throughout the arena, but the entire city of Musutafu. Everyone close to UA felt the pressure from the blast in the sky, nearly sweeping them away from their feet and causing property damage.
They were lucky that this wasn't at full power. Derived from Ulquiorra Cifer's Lanza del Relampago, Lanza de Luz Devastadora, or "Lance of Shattering Light," had the power to bend space through sheer blast force upon detonation. Kazui only reserved its full-powered variant for high captain class to transcendent level threats.
For now, this was just a demonstration to prove to Bakugō that the difference of power between them is literally heaven and earth.
Meanwhile, the audience was doing their best to not get blown away by the nuclear-like explosion above. Class 1-A were screaming in fear as they held on for dear life when the shockwave of the lance of light nearly swept them off their seats.
-{}-
"Good god! Eraserhead, just what kind of power does Kurosaki have!?"Present Mic asked in a panic. He was lucky that the commentator's booth had durable glass panels, but it didn't hide the fact that the blast itself was strong enough to shudder the stadium. "I haven't even seen anyone from the student body that has this much firepower!"
Aizawa was just as lost as him. The explosion caused by his class's representative was an additional question to the mystery that was Kazui Kurosaki. "I don't know, Mic… I don't know."
-{}-
Bakugō was completely speechless. Eyes wide in shock, his head couldn't move as he silently stared at the massive explosion in the heavens. That was more powerful than anything he could do. Even if he gathered as much sweat as he could, it would be nowhere near the level of power if compared to the one caused by Kazui.
"Accept it; it's the truth."
There was that voice again; the nagging feeling in his head. Slowly prying his eyes away from the blast, he met Kazui's blank stare who had just straightened himself.
"Now, you see?" spoke the reaper. "This is the difference in power between you and me. You've never had any chance of winning when I became your opponent."
Was it true? Was there ever any chance of him winning against Kazui Kurosaki? As Bakugō continued to ponder this, that traitorous voice in his head became louder.
"No."
He didn't want to believe it.
"I'm supposed to be the best; so, why am I losing?"
But his eyes weren't lying to him. He was hurt and tired while the freak wasn't even scratched. He didn't want to believe it or accept it. This was his origin story; his road to greatness.
Yet here he is now, battered and beaten.
"The thing about heroism, Bakugō, is that it's never about the hero," Kazui suddenly spoke. His tone was soft yet certain of himself. "We chose this profession not because of our strength, but because of what we can do with that strength. It is the responsibility of the strong to uplift the weak… so that they may one day share the same kindness they were given. That is the essence of heroism; something you never seemed to understand."
(A Perfect Circle – Passive)
"RAAAAAAGH!" Having had enough of Kazui, Bakugō lunged at the gingerhead once again. Who was he to question his beliefs!? He had no right!
Kazui, on the other hand, pointed a finger into the sky, tracing a line while moving his finger in an arc. Blue energy formed following the path of his finger. It stretched, turning into a bow with its string pulled back.
Then, it fired. The arrow itself was large and when it struck the ground right in front of Kazui, it embedded itself firmly. Bakugō had to stop his charge lest he get skewered by it.
The young hybrid approached the large arrow. He grabbed the tip resembling a handle and pulled, dislodging the object from the floor. He raised it, showing the world what it truly is: a greatsword.
The weapon had a long handle that could be wielded with two hands. A guard was non-existent but instead, a crescent embracing a six-pointed star connected the handle and the blade. The blade was double-edged—wide at the base while tapering to the tip. Finally, it glowed in an ethereal golden light letting out a warm gentle hum.
-{}-
"Okay… this is just… this is just insane," Kirishima muttered, no longer able to find any other words. "He already blew us away, figuratively and literally, and he had to balls to do something this manly?"
"I know right?" Kaminari dumbly agreed.
"Let me repeat what we just saw: class rep conjured a bow of pure energy, fired it, then picked up the arrow which is actually a big-ass sword. Did I get that right?" Sero enumerated. He got his answer in the form of silent nods. "Did… did he really have to go extra on this?"
Although silence came next, they all agreed with their tape-quirked classmate.
-{}-
Kazui waved the majestic weapon above him, making it glimmer under the bright sun. "Blühenstern Pfeilklinge or 'Blooming Star Arrow Blade.' This is the first weapon I created using my energy and, by all accounts, is my second strongest sword." He looked at Bakugō and continued. "You should feel honored that I pulled this out for you."
"Stop looking down on me!" yelled the ash blonde. "I'm not some weakling who's only worth your second strongest blade! Pull out that katana that you used on that rich know-it-all!"
Kazui's stare darkened. "I advise you to avoid insulting my girlfriend. Besides, you treat people like shit… like they're worthless compared to you. So, why should I take out Mangetsu on someone not worth her time?"
Bakugō's anger was more powerful despite his condition, compelling him to charge at Kazui in a hate-filled attempt to salvage this fight. He lunged at the hybrid with injured arms reared back for one final push at victory. Throwing his palms forward, the explosive boy created a blast as best as he could muster. It covered Katsuki in a blaze much like earlier but just like his previous attempts, it was for nothing.
Kazui's left hand emerged from the smoke, grabbing Bakugō's right hand while he struck the pommel of his greatsword on his opponent's head. His enemy pinned down, Kazui did something unthinkable that left everyone stunned.
The son of the Transcendent raised his greatsword and held it in a reverse grip. He aimed the great weapon at the boy and brought it down with might.
SHINK!
Kazui drove his sword into Bakugō's neck.
Loud gasps echoed around the stadium. Fear and dread permeated the populace in attendance as they just witnessed a student commit murder on live television.
-{}-
"KATSUKI!" Mitsuki cried, now bearing genuine fear for her son's well-being.
"Somebody stop the match!" Masaru demanded from his seat. "This isn't a competition anymore!."
However…
"He purposely missed." Both parents turned to Tsumiki in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Inko asked, equally bewildered.
"Kazui won't intentionally kill one of his classmates," reasoned the businesswoman. "Punish, maybe, but to outright kill someone is only reserved for villains."
The Bakugō couple and Inko looked back at the arena and saw Katsuki standing up clutching his neck. There was no blood on him and that made them sigh in relief.
-{}-
"I'm going to give you one chance, Bakugō, give up." The tone used was more of a command. "There's no point in continu—"
"NO!" answered the explosive boy. Defiance and ego were the only things keeping Bakugō standing; Kazui had to acknowledge that. "I… am not… losing to someone like you! I'll be number one. Do you hear me? NOBODY DESERVES TO BE NUMBER ONE BUT ME!"
"So be it." Plunging his Reishi sword into the ground, a stream of energy crawled on the arena before splitting into five points surrounding Katsuki that rose into pillars of crackling light. "Qualkreis."
Those five pillars were actually powerful bows. They coiled back, loading their ammunition before unleashing a merciless onslaught of arrows at Katsuki. The boy in question could do nothing but endure. He had no strength left—no energy to retaliate or to fight back.
The people in the audience watched in horror as the match now became a torture scene. Sure they knew that the ash blonde deserved to be put down a peg, but this was too much.
-{}-
Seeing this scene play right in front of them, Class 1-A almost forgot just how ruthless their class representative is. They had witnessed it when he butchered all those villains during the USJ Incident, but seeing it happen to one of their own was just gut-wrenching. It didn't get any better when the girlfriend of said class rep spoke the translation of the technique he used.
"Circle of Torment."
Those near the heiress stared at her in horror. "W-What did you say?"
"Qualkreis means 'Circle of Torment' in German," repeated Momo for Jirō.
"That's just…"
"Cruel?" Izuku interjected. "While I don't like how Kazui is doing this, Bakugō has had this coming for so long." It was so unreal seeing the usually timid Midoriya speak with such contempt. "What he did to Uraraka—to me in middle school—was unforgivable. This is his punishment for thinking he could get away with picking on those weaker than him. This is the consequence of him trying to fight someone TRULY strong."
-{}-
Thinking that her son would give up this pointless fight, Mitsuki and Masaru's hearts sank when Katsuki adamantly wanted to continue. It was bad enough that they thought he died, but what they were seeing was much worse.
Even if their son was a pain in the ass, they still loved him, and seeing him suffer like this was just cruel.
"STOP!" Mitsuki yelled, calling out to Kazui. "Please stop it! Stop; he's had enough! You won already! He doesn't need to suffer anymore."
The woman wanted to jump into the arena from her seat but was quickly held by her husband. "Mitsuki, don't!"
"Masaru, let go of me!" she fought against her husband's hold but couldn't break free. "I know Katsuki needs to be punished but this is too much. He's torturing our boy!"
"No, Mitsuki. Don't do something stupid!"
"I said let—"
The woman suddenly slumped into her husband's arms. Tsumiki had struck a pressure point that put her to sleep.
"I'm sorry to do that, Mr. Bakugō, but I thought it was for her own good."
Masaru gently placed his wife on her seat before looking back at the Yaoyorozu matriarch. "Thak you, Mrs. Yaoyorozu. I just hope she doesn't go ballistic when she wakes up."
Meanwhile, Inko was staring at the carnage that was going on below. She hoped that Katsuki would be all right after this, but a dreadful thought was plaguing her. She knew full well that the orange-haired boy, Kazui, would be advancing to the finals, which meant he'd face Izuku.
"I hope Izuku doesn't get hurt like that…"
-{}-
"Heilig Bogen."
Kazui suddenly de-spelled his torment circle, confusing an aching Bakugō. However, his suffering was only beginning as the young reaper pointed his greatsword at him and, from its tip, an intricate bow in the shape of a six-pointed star.
"Licht Sturm."
A tidal wave of arrows ensued, consuming the battered Katsuki in thousands of light arrows, and viciously pelting him in its radiant barrage. For a moment, the assault stopped, giving a false sense of relief until another bombardment befell the explosive boy.
No one could say anything. The audience went silent as Kazui continued firing his holy bow upon Bakugō. Earlier, they showed their disgust when the latter student's ego and self-centered view on heroism was shown to the world. Now, they were just frozen and unsure whether to cheer for Kazui as his current actions go beyond mere punishment.
But that didn't matter to the gingerhead. Public opinion never meant anything to him. Eventually, he stopped firing Licht Sturm and dispelled his holy bow. Looking at his opponent, the reaper was mildly surprised to see Bakugō standing. Yes, he lowered the power output of his bolts but even then, it was impressive.
Utterly exhausted, Katsuki could only glare in defiance as he stood wobbly on his feet while refusing to surrender.
"It's admirable that you stood your ground," said Kazui. "However, that's the only redeeming trait you have until you change."
It was time to end this. Pointing the tip of his blade forward, Kazui gathered his Spiritual Energy into the pointed end. He moved his arm, tracing a thin line brimming with his energy, and unleashed a technique from his lineage that he never used since he arrived in this world.
"Getsuga Tenshō."
A golden flash of light, then followed by a powerful pressure and a violent gust of wind before…
CRACK!
Something collided with the walls beyond the arena. Dust and debris obscured the area where the crash occurred but, gradually, it settled to reveal a most disturbing sight.
Katsuki Bakugo has gone out of bounds. His body sunk deeply into the concrete barrier while sporting not just bruises from the multitudinous salvo of Kazui's Licht Sturn, but also burns all over his body from the recent attack. His arms were spread out, his feet were close together, and his head hung almost lifeless—it gave the image of someone crucified. Finally, there was a gigantic slash that ran perpendicular to his body, signifying that this was what finished his chances of winning this festival.
As for Kazui, he didn't say anything. He and a gobsmacked Midnight simply stared at each other before deciding to walk away from the match, not even paying attention to her calling his victory.
In the end, he did what he set out to do. He shattered the arrogant boy's egotistical beliefs.
Now, what's left is to fight Izuku and enact the final stage of his plan.