Dekiru 10: The Symbol Of Peace And The Protector Of Earth

by Phantomdanger

Izuku Midoriya, previously quirkless, was offered One For All by the greatest hero, but during training, he discovered the Omnitrix. Now his on the journey to be the greatest hero, the Symbol of Peace and The protector of Earth. It's Hero Time!

28. Chapter 25: Capture The Flag! Part 2:

Spidermonkey hung upside down from a webline attached to Jirou's horn, his body relaxed yet poised like an acrobat. Jirou kept her balance effortlessly, standing on the pair of horns as her fingers lightly gripped the horn for support. Kendo stood confidently on another set of horns, a few feet away, her posture steady as she scanned the battlefield below.

"Thanks, Grandpa, for those balance lessons," Itsuka said with a pleased smile, her tone light as she stood poised on her own horns.

They were floating about 25 feet above the chaos, keeping an eye on the teams below as they fought for points.

Spidermonkey closed his eyes, adopting a sage-like pose while still hanging from the webline. "Om. Om. Om."

Jirou arched a brow. "Uh, Midoriya, what are you doing?"

"Trying to build up some nature energy," Spidermonkey replied with a calm tone, his voice almost serene.

Both girls exchanged a blank look before turning to him. "Dork," they said in unison.

Spidermonkey flinched dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded. "Ouch. Right in the pride," he groaned, earning soft giggles from both girls.

Spidermonkey flinched dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded. "Ouch. Right in the pride," he groaned, earning soft giggles from both girls.

"Good luck entering sage mode, dork," Itsuka teased with a smirk, making Spidermonkey blush before he turned to her.

"Wait, how do you even know that reference?" he asked, tilting his head as he stared at her.

Itsuka's face flushed instantly. She quickly covered her face with her hands. "N-No reason! I don't know what you're talking about!"

Jirou chuckled, watching the exchange. "Oh, so you're both dorks," she teased, her smile wide.

Spidermonkey chuckled, amused by Kendo's flustered embarrassment, but his thoughts quickly shifted as he continued observing how Danger Sense functioned. So far, it hadn't gone off, which reassured him that there were no immediate threats in the area.

'So I have a past user's Quirk? This whole time, I've been using another One For All user's ability without even realizing it! If I can use one, does that mean I can use the others too? How do I activate them-or unlock them? Was it random that this one appeared? Or is there some kind of trigger?' Spidermonkey rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. 'When it activates, it feels like a stabbing pain in my head. Is it reacting to danger itself or something else?'

'So far, I can predict incoming dangers, like with the minefield and Shoda. But what are the limits? Can I sense the exact moment a danger is about to happen? Is it five minutes before? A minute? Just a second? How much time do I really have?'

He mentally replayed moments from earlier fights when the Quirk had activated, trying to piece together a pattern. 'It's almost like a sixth sense... but what sets it off exactly? Does it need someone to actively want to hurt me? Is that why it goes off everytime Kacchan's near me?'

Theories churned in his mind, but before he could dive further into analyzing the Quirk, Present Mic's booming voice shattered his concentration.

"NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT EACH TEAM'S POINTS! HERE ARE THE CURRENT RANKINGS UP ON THE SCREEN!" Present Mic announced, drawing everyone's attention to the massive display as it lit up with the updated scores.

...

"HMM, IT SEEMS LIKE OTHER THAN MIDORIYA, CLASS-A ISN'T DOING SO WELL! IN FACT, MORE THAN HALF OF CLASS-A ARE FALLING BEHIND! AND BAKUGO'S TEAM... THEY HAVE 0 POINTS!" His shock was palpable as the crowd murmured in surprise.

Bakugou's eyes widened in disbelief as the rankings flashed on the screen. His fists clenched tightly as he redirected his trajectory, explosions propelling him back toward his team's zone in a panic. His sharp gaze caught sight of his stolen flag, proudly planted in Monoma's zone. Fury overtook him as he veered toward the perpetrators.

"H-Huh?!" Spidermonkey and Jirou exclaimed in unison from their perch high on Pony's horns. Both of them, utilizing their enhanced hearing, tuned into the faint sounds coming from Monoma's zone.

"Class 1-A is far too small minded," Monoma's mocking voice floated through the air, faint but sharp. "It's almost laughable how easily we've outmaneuvered them. Such simple minds make for easy prey."

Meanwhile, Bakugo landed hard in Monoma's zone, the ground cracking under his forceful descent. He glared daggers at Monoma, Billy Billions, Aoyama-standing blank-faced-and Shinso, an unfamiliar purple-haired boy with a smug grin.

"Ugh," Billy sneered, taking a step back, clearly repulsed by Bakugo's mere presence. "And they call you a hero? You're a walking temper tantrum."

Bakugo's palms sparked, a dangerous heat radiating from him. "I'll blow that smug look right off your-"

"Wait." Tetsutetsu's voice cut through, his hardened steel body gleaming as he stepped forward. His glare was locked on Monoma and his allies. "So, you're the ones who messed with us."

"Such deceit cannot be overlooked," Ibara added, her vine-like hair writhing around her in anger.

Shinso's smirk deepened as he stepped forward. "And what exactly are you going to do about it?" His voice was smooth, laced with mockery. He snapped his fingers, his expression bored. "Hey, sparkly French boy, take her out."

Aoyama moved instantly, his Navel Laser bursting to life in a blinding beam of energy. The attack sliced through the air with precision, forcing Tetsutetsu to react.

"Get behind me!" Tetsutetsu roared, stepping in front of Ibara. He braced himself, crossing his arms as the searing beam collided with his iron body. The impact sent tremors through the ground, scorching his metallic skin and leaving faint, glowing lines of melted steel. He staggered, panting, but refused to fall.

"Tetsutetsu, are you-"

"I'm fine!" he interrupted, glaring fiercely. "This isn't enough to stop me."

Ibara's eyes hardened as her vines surged forward, splitting the earth as they shot toward Aoyama. The vines coiled around him like snakes, pinning his arms and stopping his next attack.

From the side, Billy snickered. "Cute trick," he said, before glancing at Shinso and Kaminari.

Kaminari, who stood unnaturally still, electricity crackling faintly around him.

Shinso's smirk didn't waver. He turned his attention to Kaminari. "Your turn, Blondie. Attack."

Kaminari obeyed without hesitation, his movements mechanical as electricity crackled violently around him.

Kaminari moved without hesitation, electricity surging through his body as he lunged at Tetsutetsu and Ibara, his hands sparking dangerously.

Ibara acted quickly, planting her vines deep into the ground and wrapping them around Kaminari. The vines tightened, holding him fast while insulating against the electricity. Sparks danced harmlessly along the surface of the vines, but Kaminari remained immobilized.

Just as they began to regain control of the situation, Shinso appeared behind them. His hands landed firmly on Tetsutetsu and Ibara's shoulders. Both students froze, their eyes wide with surprise.

"You know," Shinso said casually, leaning closer, "for hero course students, you're pretty disappointing."

"Like hell we are!" Tetsutetsu growled, his steel body vibrating with tension.

"We will not allow-""Ibara began, her voice defiant.

But then their voices faltered, and their expressions went blank. Shinso released them, stepping back with a victorious smirk.

"HEY, WHOA! WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED HERE?! WHO'S THIS PURPLE-HAIRED KID STEALING THE SHOW?!"

"That's Hitoshi Shinso from General Studies. As you've just seen, his Quirk allows him to take control of anyone." Aizawa said.

...

The stands erupted into an uproar from the sudden revelation.

"Wait, that's the kid's Quirk?!" someone in the crowd shouted, disbelief filling their voice.

"And they placed him in General Studies? What a bunch of idiots," a pro hero woman commented with a scoff, shaking her head at the thought.

Kirishima appeared soon after, his skin hardened and ready to back up Bakugou. "Bakugou! I came to back you up!" he called out, his voice filled with determination. He was soon joined by Ashido, who seemed to be stewing in anger over their earlier encounter with Bakugou.

"Listen up," Bakugou barked at his teammates, his glare fierce. "Don't touch the purple-haired kid. That's how he gets you. That's his Quirk, right?" He spat, his voice dripping with disdain as he fixed Shinso with an intense glare.

Shinso's expression remained completely unchanged, unfazed by Bakugou's words. He glanced lazily at him and shrugged. "Do you always run your mouth like this?" he asked, his tone bored, almost mocking.

Billy, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. "Wow, even a dimwit like him figured it out," he muttered under his breath, clearly unimpressed.

Monoma, leaning against a nearby rock, sneered at Bakugou. "And what exactly do you think you're going to do about it, Bakugou?" he taunted. "You can't exactly beat us without touching us." His voice was dripping with smug confidence.

Bakugou's glare only deepened, a vein throbbing on his temple. "Oh, we'll see about that in about a minute when I've kicked your ass and taken all your damn points," he snarled, his tone dangerous.

Kirishima scratched his chin, taking in the situation. "So his Quirk works through physical contact, huh? That's how it works?" he asked, trying to make sense of it all.

Monoma, still grinning, shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, since Midnight said this is just the first game, it wouldn't make sense for them to cut a ton of people in the qualifier, right? We assumed they'd keep around forty people for the next stage, so we made sure to stay within that number. We kept an eye on who could pose a real threat, checking out their Quirks while running from the back. There's no need to obsess over winning the prelims. We were more focused on gathering intel on Midoriya's forms. Kendo was adamant about not giving us any of that information, though," he added with a smirk, clearly proud of the strategy.

Bakugou's brow furrowed with frustration. "You did all this as a class?" he asked, voice sharp as he processed Monoma's words.

"Well, it wasn't a full-on class consensus, but it was a damn good idea, right?" Monoma replied confidently. "Now, excuse me, I'm done playing with small fries like you. Time to face Midoriya. We've got a contingency for him!" he said, his grin widening.

Bakugou's eye twitched, tick marks popping up all over his forehead as his rage flared to life. He was done listening to Monoma's smug attitude.

Billy, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, chuckled darkly.

"Kirishima... Raccoon Eyes... Change of plan..." Bakugou growled, his voice seething with fury as if possessed by a demon. His hands clenched into fists, the fire in his eyes unrelenting. "Before we get shitty Deku, let's wipe out all these guys!"

"It's Mina Ashido, you jerk." Mina shot back, her voice biting with indignation, her anger flaring.

Before Bakugou could react, Shinso's voice cut through the chaos. "Before you go off, you might want to get your classmates back." His voice was smooth, but carried a quiet threat. "Vine girl, let go of the blonde kid. Tape guy, go after your classmates. Vine girl, protect us from the blonde guy's electrical attack."

Ibara's face went blank as her body obeyed Shinso's commands without hesitation. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced by an eerie vacancy in her expression. She released Kaminari, who immediately surged forward, his body crackling with electricity. His vacant expression mirrored Ibara's as he moved like a puppet on strings, his limbs jerking mechanically. Meanwhile, Sero swung toward their classmates, also with a vacant, blank stare, his movements similarly hollow.

Ibara's hair shot into the ground like a viper, then vines erupted in front of Billy, Monoma, and Shinso, forming a protective barricade. Kaminari's surge of electricity arced through the air, crackling like thunder. It lashed over them like a storm, but it wasn't just the villains who were affected.

"WHOA! TALK ABOUT FRIENDLY FIRE! KAMINARI TURNS ON HIS TEAMMATES AND DELIVERS A SHOCKING DISPLAY OF POWER!" Present Mic shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium, his excitement evident despite the chaos.

The electric storm raged as Bakugou and Ashido were both hit by the full brunt of the surge. Bakugou's body spasmed uncontrollably, his muscles locking as the shock tore through him. His fury was palpable, but he couldn't move. Ashido's own body jerked violently beside him, both of them left powerless in the wake of Kaminari's wild attack.

However, Kirishima was made of sturdier stuff. His hardened body absorbed the electrical surge, but the force of it sent violent tremors through him. His vacant expression remained, showing no sign of his usual fight-or-flight determination. He gritted his teeth, pushing through the agony. His body, crackling with electricity, barely withstood the attack as he drew his fist back.

With a primal roar, Kirishima lunged forward, his fist connecting with Kaminari's gut in a gut-wrenching punch. The force was enough to send Kaminari stumbling backward, his vacant expression snapping into shock as the electrical storm dissipated. He clutched his stomach, gasping for breath, his body wracked with pain. Vomit spilled from his mouth as his legs buckled beneath him.

"Uh... what happened...?" Kaminari gasped, blinking in confusion, his body still trembling from the aftermath of his own electricity.

"Y-Yeah..." Sero echoed, his body still twitching from the residual shock, his vacant expression now slowly fading as his consciousness returned.

"DAMN IT! RACCOON EYES! TAPE ARMS! WEIRD HAIR! PIKACHU, YOU GUYS GET THE OTHER POINTS AND BRING THEM BACK TO BASE!" Bakugou screamed, his rage boiling over. His fists clenched, the desire for revenge igniting in his chest. "I'M GOING TO GET OUR FLAG BACK!"

...

Spidermonkey, still hanging upside down by a web thread on Pony's horn, glanced over at Class 1-B with a mix of curiosity and surprise. "Whoa... So, your class had a plan to throw the qualifier?"

Kendo, balancing herself easily on the two horns, gave a long sigh. "Yeah... Monoma came up with this ridiculous plan where we throw the qualifier so we can observe everyone's quirks from the middle ranks."

"To gauge what we can do and take advantage of it during the second event?" Spidermonkey asked, his eyes wide.

Kendo nodded. "Exactly. He thought it'd give Class B an advantage by ensuring only us made it to the finals." She pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly frustrated. "Some of our classmates actually agreed to that hair-brained scheme."

"Well, that's just stupid." Jirou said bluntly, her expression deadpan. "The Sports Festival is our chance to show off our quirks, so the pros can see what we're capable of. Throwing the qualifier just seems like a dumb move. It's not like we can show off our best tricks in an obstacle course anyway."

Spidermonkey shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "People do love an underdog, though."

Kendo sighed again, the exhaustion evident in her voice. "Yeah, well, Monoma mostly wanted to figure out what forms Midoriya would use, so we'd be more prepared."

"Eh... kinda dumb too," Jirou chimed in, "if Greenie turned into Fasttrack, he wouldn't have shown anything anyway."

Kendo just shrugged again, resigned.

"Though, just saying," Jirou added with a teasing smile, "your class can't really complain that we're taking the spotlight, when your class tried to throw the qualifier just to get an advantage."

Kendo flinched, scratching her head awkwardly at Jirou's pointed remark. "Yeah... You're right. We can't really complain."

Spidermonkey then spoke up, his voice thoughtful. "Though, that Shinso guy-he explained why Ojiro, Tetsutetsu, Aoyama, and Ibara are on a team."

Itsuka nodded, looking over at the board. "He must've used his Quirk to control and wait out the clock when we had to form teams."

"And since everyone was already paired up by then, they were stuck together," Jirou added, crossing her arms and looking at the board.

Spidermonkey glanced at the team listed on the screen: Ojiro, Tetsutetsu, Aoyama, and Ibara. It was an odd combination, especially since Aoyama barely interacted with anyone, making it a surprise that they'd been grouped together.

"Though... at least Tetsutetsu and Ojiro seem to be snagging some points," Itsuka said, a little smile tugging at her lips as she glanced at the teams.

...

"Uh-oh," Spidermonkey muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as Danger Sense screamed in his mind. His wide, alert eyes darted upwards to Kendo and Jirou. "Kendo! Jirou! Get ready!"

Both looked at him, confused, but Spidermonkey's attention was already shifting downward. His senses stabbed sharply at the base of his skull, directing his gaze below. There, like a glacier waiting to surge, stood Todoroki.

His feet hovered a few inches above the ground, supported by the low hum of the Hover Soles. The boots vibrated with mechanical precision, their thrusters propelling him with just enough force to maintain a steady, stable position.

Ochako, a quiet smile on her face, walked past him. As she brushed against his arm, Todoroki felt the familiar weightlessness take hold of him. His feet lifted from the ground, and he glanced at her, his gravity reduced to zero.

"Hehehe, my babies are truly magnificent, don't you think?" Mei Hatsume said with a grin, her hands on her hips, proudly observing the floating Todoroki.

Todoroki gave a curt nod, his gaze scanning the battlefield. His Hover Soles hummed in harmony with his movement, keeping him balanced even without gravity's pull. "Make sure you trap him," he ordered, his voice unwavering, "Iida, secure the other flags. Uraraka, make everyone float. I don't want our team getting pinned down."

Ochako saluted energetically before touching Mei on the shoulder. "Ooh, this is fun," Mei said.

Spidermonkey gulped as Danger Sense flared in his head, the stabbing pain warning him of an impending attack. He tightened his grip and, without thinking, blurted out, "It's over, Todoroki! I have the high ground!"

Todoroki's expression didn't waver, his breath forming a frosty mist as he replied coldly, "You underestimate my power."

The Todoroki extended his right hand downward, palm facing the earth. Instantly, the temperature plummeted.

With a mighty burst, a jagged pillar of ice erupted from the ground beneath him. The shockwave of frost surged outward like a tidal wave, encasing the entire battlefield.

Those caught in the wave found themselves trapped as thick, hard ice rapidly encased their feet, the cold seeping into their bones, leaving them frozen in place.

A blanket of white frost spread across the entire arena, turning the ground beneath into a slick, frozen wasteland. The chilling grip of Todoroki's ice was inescapable, freezing anyone who couldn't react fast enough, including nearly all of Class 1-A, leaving only a few students free from its frozen reach.

Iida wasted no time. He darted across the icy terrain, his engine-powered legs roaring as he snatched flags from helpless opponents. His speed turned him into a blur, flags quickly piling into his grasp.

Todoroki's Hover Soles kept him aloft, the thrusters humming as they lifted him higher, above the ice. His form hovered, cold and determined, just above the towering ice pillar he had created.

Spidermonkey let out a nervous laugh, his voice cracking slightly in the intense atmosphere. "Okay, maybe I was wrong. High ground's not everything..."

"WE'VE REACHED OUR HALF-WAY MARK. CLASS 1-B ALONGSIDE HITOSHI SHINSO HAVE MADE A SURPRISING TURN OF EVENTS AS THEY TAKE DOWN CLASS 1-A! NOW SHOTO TODOROKI FACES OF AGAINST THE AIR BORNE TRIO! USING SUPPORT ITEMS!" Present Mic said through speakers.

7 Minutes and 30 seconds remaining.

Spidermonkey looked down, eyes narrowing as Iida zoomed past, collecting flags with astonishing speed and heading toward Todoroki's zone. He planted them with precision, the flags standing tall in their new positions.

"TENYA IIDA WITH SURPRISING TAKES THE IMMOBILE TEAM'S FLAGS FOR THEIR OWN!" Aizawa's voice rang through the arena.

Todoroki, hovering above the ice pillar he'd created, shot a chilling glare downward. "I'll be taking that now."

Jirou, still balanced precariously on Pony's horns, felt her heart race as Kendo cracked her knuckles, preparing for the next move. The air grew heavy as the tension between the four players intensified. Spidermonkey suddenly felt the sharp stab of Danger Sense as Todoroki thrust his hands forward, unleashing a wave of ice-cold fury.

The moment the ice surged toward them, Kendo and Jirou sprang into action, darting to the side as Pony expertly guided her horns through the sky, dodging the freezing onslaught.

"W-Whoa!" Jirou yelped, thrown off by the sudden movement. "W-Why are we moving?!"

"Pony's controlling them! Try to stay on your feet!" Kendo barked, feeling the icy breeze brush against her shoulder as the wave whipped past.

Pony's eyes narrowed with concentration, her two horns zipping around with deadly accuracy. She was an expert at using them as both weapons and tools for maneuverability. As the cold wave brushed past, her horns veered sharply, the two piercing through the air.

"Hold on tight!" Pony commanded, her voice steady as she adjusted their flight path. She had been watching via boncluors from their zone.

Spidermonkey, feeling the piercing pressure of his Danger Sense, shot a web into the air, catching one of Pony's horns. With a powerful yank, he swung himself toward Todoroki, cocking his fist back, blue electricity crackling around his body in preparation for a devastating strike.

Todoroki's icy stare never faltered as he placed his palm flat against the ice pillar beneath him. Suddenly, jagged ice formations exploded from the ground like deadly shards, homing in on Spidermonkey with lethal precision.

"Green, cover your ears!" Jirou screamed. Spidermonkey immediately braced himself, but Jirou, sensing the danger, unleashed a full-throated sonic blast from her boots. The force of the sound shattered the ice shards into oblivion, scattering fragments across the battlefield.

Todoroki flinched, hands instinctively clutching his ears as Spidermonkey swung into range, launching a powerful right hook toward him. Todoroki's head jerked violently to the right.

Todoroki's expression darkened as he gripped Spidermonkey's forearm, icy tendrils wrapping around it. But before he could fully encase it, Spidermonkey planted two rapid kicks into Todoroki's torso. The force of the blows knocked the air from his lungs, and he was sent skidding backward, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.

Todoroki's hoverboots kicked in, stabilizing him mid-air, but the force of the kicks left him momentarily disoriented. His eyes locked onto Spidermonkey, fury burning in his gaze. He launched another powerful ice wave, this one even more intense, freezing the web string connecting to Kendo's horn in a blink.

The ice shattered like glass as Spidermonkey, caught off-guard, began plummeting. But in a split second, he shot another web toward the icy pillar, swinging with all his might to stay in the fight.

"TALK ABOUT AERIAL COMBAT! TODOROKI FACES OFF AGAINST MIDORIYA, BUT IT'S TSUNOTORI PONY EXPERTLY USING HER HORNS TO KEEP KENDO AND JIROU OUT OF HARMS WAY FROM HIS ICY ONSLAUGHT!"

"Impressive coordination," Aizawa commented, his voice dry. "Even from a distance, Pony is using her horns with skill to control the flow of battle, while the others back up Midoriya."

Todoroki glanced at the time-6 minutes and 45 seconds remaining. His jaw clenched. He had to act quickly.

"Iida, now!" Todoroki bellowed, his commanding voice slicing through the frosty air, signaling his next move.

Ochako immediately reached out, her hand brushing Iida's arm. Her Zero Gravity Quirk activated in an instant, rendering Iida weightless. Without hesitation, his engines roared to life, the sound deafening as they launched him skyward with incredible speed, streaking toward the airborne Spidermonkey like a missile.

Spidermonkey's Danger Sense erupted in his mind, the sharp, stabbing warning causing his heart to race. His four hands tightened their grip on the nearby ledges of ice Todoroki had left behind, but there was no time to act-no time to dodge. The world blurred as Iida closed the distance in mere seconds.

Iida's leg shot back, his engines flaring with an extra burst of power. "Recipro..." His voice echoed through the air as his momentum surged. "BURST!"

The kick connected directly with Spidermonkey's torso. The sheer force was like a cannonball striking its target. The impact reverberated through the air with a thunderous BOOM, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Spidermonkey's body hurtled backward, limbs flailing, as he was flung through the battlefield with such force that the air itself seemed to shatter around him.

The Omnitrix wielder crashed into the frozen ground below, the impact carving a deep crater into the ice-coated earth. The sound of the collision was deafening, dust and frost exploding into the air in a chaotic swirl. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent, save for the faint hum of Todoroki's Hover Soles above.

Spidermonkey groaned as he attempted to push himself up, his entire body aching from the devastating blow. His hands trembled as he planted them on the icy ground, his breath labored. "Man..." he muttered, voice strained as he coughed out a nervous laugh. "That... really hurt..."

"Release." Ochako said as Todoroki and Iida, regaining their gravity, slid down a newly formed ice ramp.

They slid down Todoroki quickly cooling off Iida's engines.

"Midoriya!" Kendo shouted from the air, her voice laced with concern.

Spidermonkey groaned, his body aching from the kick, but he was alright. One For All's enhancement of his durability, combined with his own natural resilience, allowed him to shrug off the attack.

"I'm alright-" Spidermonkey began to say, but his Danger Sense suddenly kicked in, warning him of an incoming attack.

A capture net-like contraption flew by, narrowly missing Spidermonkey as he dodged to the side. But Mei wasn't finished yet. With a swift motion, she activated the net's recall function, and it suddenly changed direction, flying back towards Spidermonkey with incredible speed.

Spidermonkey tried to react, but it was too late. The net enveloped him from behind, trapping him in its grasp. Mei grinned triumphantly.

"Ah, gotcha! My Magnetic Capture Net is a versatile tool that can be used to capture and restrain opponents. Not only can it be fired like a projectile, but it can also be recalled like a magnet, allowing me to catch my opponents off guard and trap them from behind!"

Spidermonkey struggled against the net, but it held firm. Mei's invention had him right where she wanted him..

"Are you seriously advertising right now?!" Ochaco shouted in shock, her eyes wide with incredulity.

Mei grinned, seemingly unfazed by the absurdity of the situation. "I have to take every opportunity to advertise my babies. Since the 10 million point prize over there has his team full, I chose the next best option - numbers 2 and 3."

Spidermonkey's eyes narrowed, his expression confident. "You don't actually expect a net to hold me, do you?" he asked, his voice dripping with confidence.

One For All sparked to life, crackling with energy as Spidermonkey began to tear through the net. Mei's grin only grew wider as she pressed a button on her wrist-mounted controller.

The net suddenly unleashed a powerful surge of electricity, coursing through Spidermonkey's body like a live wire. His muscles convulsed, his eyes wide with pain as he screamed, his voice hoarse from the shock.

"FOLKS, WE'VE GOT A REAL SHOCKER HERE! MEI'S MAGNETIC CAPTURE NET HAS NOT ONLY SNAGGED SPIDERMONKEY, BUT IT'S ALSO DELIVERING A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHOCK! THE CROWD IS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS AS SPIDERMONKEY STRUGGLES TO BREAK FREE!"

Spidermonkey coughed, steam rising from his bruised and battered body as he lay tangled within the electrified net. Sparks danced across his fur, the residual shock still numbing his muscles.

Despite his condition, his eyes burned with defiance. Todoroki descended from his icy ramp with practiced grace, his breath visible in the frigid air.

As Todoroki approached, Spidermonkey's sharp instincts flared. Danger Sense screamed, but his body was too weakened to react. Todoroki raised his right hand, and with a powerful thrust, a freezing trail of ice erupted from his palm. In an instant, Spidermonkey was engulfed in a thick, glistening column of ice.

Spidermonkey squirmed within the icy prison, his face a mix of pain and frustration as he strained against his bonds. His movements were slow, the encroaching cold draining his strength. Todoroki stepped closer, his boots crunching against the frost-covered ground.

He reached out and grasped the 10-million-point flag strapped to Spidermonkey's back like a trophy waiting to be claimed.

"Like I said before," Todoroki murmured, his voice low and cold, "I'll be taking that." His gloved hand tugged on the flag with deliberate ease.

Spidermonkey's eyes snapped wide open, a desperate fire igniting within them. "No..." he growled through gritted teeth.

Sparks began to flicker across his body, faint at first, then growing brighter as blue electricity surged and crackled around him. The air grew thick with tension, buzzing with raw energy.

The ground beneath the icy column trembled faintly, the cracks in the ice spreading as Spidermonkey's power built as he used higher percentage."13%" He growled.

Todoroki's eyes narrowed. Recognizing the danger, he slammed his right hand into the frozen ground. A tidal wave of frost erupted from the impact, surging toward Spidermonkey and reinforcing the ice around him. The column expanded, thick and jagged, like a glacier erupting from the earth.

For a moment, all was still.

And then, a deafening crack split the air.

The ice shuddered violently, spiderweb-like fractures crawling across its surface as Spidermonkey roared. Blue electricity surged outward in violent pulses, and the column of ice exploded outward in a cataclysmic burst.

Shards of ice scattered like deadly shrapnel, while a massive shockwave rippled through the arena.

The force hit like a hurricane, sending Todoroki, Ochaco, Iida, and Mei flying back as if they were weightless. Their bodies were thrown across the field, slamming into the ground with bone-jarring impacts.

Ochako and Mei were thrown the furthest back from the shockwave alone. Todoroki and Iida tumbled before finding the footing skidding on the ground.

Spidermonkey took ragged breaths, his chest heaving with exertion. "13%," he growled, the words barely audible over the crackling of One For All's energy around him.

Todoroki seemed pleased with himself, a confident smirk spreading across his face. But his expression was short-lived, as Iida suddenly sprang into action. The speedster's engines roared to life, and he shot forward like a bullet, his body a blur as he accelerated towards Spidermonkey.

But Spidermonkey's Danger Sense was on high alert, and he let his instincts take over. With a swift, powerful motion, he cocked his fist back and unleashed a devastating punch that caught Iida straight in the midsection. Spit flew out

The impact was tremendous, and Iida's body crumpled under the force of the blow. He was sent flying backward, his speed and momentum halted in an instant.

The crowd gasped in shock, stunned by the sudden and brutal stoppage of Iida's high-speed attack. No one could see him move so him coming to an abrupt stop like that was baffling.

Todoroki's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Spidermonkey. "Uraraka," he called out, his voice low and urgent.

"Todoroki's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Spidermonkey. "Uraraka," he called out, his voice low and urgent.

Ochaco, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, suddenly snapped back to attention. "Huh? Yeah?" she replied, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Todoroki's expression remained serious. "Does Midoriya have a sixth sense?" he asked, his eyes never leaving Spidermonkey's face.

Uraraka's confusion deepened. "Uh, not that I'm aware of," she replied, her brow furrowed in thought.

Todoroki's gaze lingered on Spidermonkey for a moment longer before he turned to Uraraka. "No way he could've predicted and reacted to Iida with instincts alone," he said, his voice dripping with conviction. "Iida, Uraraka, grab points from the other teams. It's difficult for me to use my quirk with people around."

The stadium erupted into chaos as the crowd realized what had just happened. Present Mic's voice boomed through the speakers, his excitement palpable.

"YO?! WHAT THE HECK?! YOU SAW THAT REACTION TIME?! IT'S LIKE HE'S GOT SUPERHUMAN REFLEXES! HOW DID HE EVEN SEE IIDA COMING?! THAT WAS A HIGH-SPEED ATTACK, AND HE JUST... STOPPED IT COLD!

Aizawa, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at Spidermonkey's incredible reflexes. 'To be able to react to that... That kind of reaction time...' he thought to himself, his eyes narrowing in introspection. 'It's almost as if he has a heightened sense of awareness... But how is that possible?'

Spidermonkey panted heavily, his chest heaving with exertion, as Kendo and Jirou leaped off Pony's horn and rushed to his side, their faces etched with concern.

"Greenie, you okay?" Jirou asked, her voice laced with worry.

Spidermonkey nodded, wincing in pain. "I'm okay... My body hurts a little, but I'll be fine-"

But before he could finish, his Danger Sense screamed in warning, and he acted on instinct. With a swift motion, he used his lower pair of arms to shove Kendo and Jirou away from him, just as two massive metal projectiles came crashing down.

Spidermonkey's upper arms shot up to block the attack, his hands grasping the metal projectiles as they slammed into him with incredible force. He dug his feet deep into the ground, his muscles straining to resist the impact. The earth beneath him shuddered, and a shockwave erupted, creating a small crater in the ground.

Despite the tremendous force, Spidermonkey's feet refused to budge, anchored firmly to the ground. He locked eyes with Billy Billions, who was glaring at him with a hateful gaze that seemed to burn with an inner fire. The intensity of Billy's stare was almost palpable, rivaling even the infamous glare of Katsuki Bakugou.

With a sudden surge of strength, Spidermonkey pushed back against the metal projectiles, using his powerful arms to propel Billy backward. The billionaire's son flew through the air, landing hard on the ground with a thud.

Billy got back groaning the boy had metal gauntlet like device they were each pretty big on their own humming with power.

"AND THAT'S BILLY BILLIONS, A QUIRKLESS GENIUS! HE'S MADE IT THIS FAR USING OLD-FASHIONED BRAIN POWER!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the stadium, his words dripping with excitement.

The crowd murmured in surprise, and some of the students looked at each other in confusion. "Whoa, he's quirkless?" one of them whispered.

"Wait, Billy Billions? Like, the billionaire?" another student asked, eyes wide with wonder.

Aizawa, meanwhile, was studying the files of Billy Billions, his expression puzzled. "This kid has no intention of being a hero," he muttered to himself. "He didn't even bother applying to the hero course."

Present Mic's voice cut through the air once more. "Huh? Wait, really?" he asked, his tone incredulous.

Aizawa's eyes narrowed as he analyzed Billy's personality. "Hmm. And from his personality, I doubt he would even want to be a hero. The way he talks about Class 1-A, particularly Midoriya... I'm sure he wouldn't want to be in their class or any class for that matter."

Present Mic's voice was filled with confusion. "Then why the hell is he trying so hard?"

Aizawa shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I have no idea," he said, putting the papers away. "But one thing's for sure: Billy Billions is a wild card,"

...

"Midoriya..." Billy growled, his eyes blazing with jealousy. "You think you're so special?" Spidermonkey's eyes narrowed, and he assumed a fighting pose, his muscles tensed and ready.

"What's your problem with me?" Spidermonkey asked, his voice firm. "If this is about Yaoyorozu, let me tell you, we're just friends."

Billy's sneer deepened. "It's everything about you. Everyone's always praising you, fawning over your Quirk, something you didn't even work for! You didn't earn your powers, you just got lucky."

Billy's face turned red with rage. "I don't need powers like the rest of you," he snarled. "I have the real talent, the real brains. And I'll show them all why I'm better than everyone by beating you to a bloody pulp."

Billy's smirk grew wider as he called out, "Hey, Monoma, bring him out!"

Spidermonkey's Danger Sense screamed in warning, and he felt a sudden jolt of pain. He dodged to the side just in time, avoiding Billy's metal gauntlet as it came crashing down.

"ZAP!" Monoma's voice echoed through the air, and a bolt of lightning struck the ground where Spidermonkey had been standing just moments before. The air was filled with the acrid smell of ozone, and the ground was scorched and blackened.

...

"SPLAT!" A voice echoed through the air, and a massive glob of gooey, sticky liquid hurtled towards Spidermonkey. He tried to dodge, but the substance splattered across his body, weighing him down.

"ZAP!" Monoma's voice shouted, and a bolt of lightning struck the ground mere inches from Spidermonkey's feet. The air was filled with the acrid smell of ozone, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.

"FWOOSH!" A wave of flames erupted from Billy's direction, forcing Spidermonkey to leap out of the way. His Danger Sense was screaming in his mind, warning him of the multiple attacks coming his way.

Kendo and Jirou were forced to dodge a few stray attacks themselves, their movements swift and agile as they avoided the lightning bolts and flames.

"YAWN!" Manga Fukidashi's voice boomed, and the massive materialized word shot through the air like a battering ram. Spidermonkey twisted mid-swing, his instincts screaming, but he wasn't quick enough. The word grazed his shoulder, and an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed over him, dragging him down like a weight tied to his limbs.

Monoma and Billy shared a triumphant look, their smirks brimming with vindication. Above them, Spidermonkey faltered. His agile movements slowed, and the branches he had so skillfully swung from suddenly felt like slippery traps. His grip faltered, and gravity claimed him. He fell hard, the impact shaking the earth as he hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Dirt and dust exploded outward as Spidermonkey lay sprawled, gasping for air. His muscles refused to respond, trembling with fatigue. Every breath felt heavier than the last, his energy slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Billy seized the moment, charging with explosive speed. His battle cry tore through the air, his fist pulled back like a wrecking ball ready to swing.

WHAM!

The punch connected with bone-crushing force, launching Spidermonkey across the battlefield like a missile. He slammed into a tree, the trunk splintering under the impact. Leaves and bark rained down as the tree groaned under the weight of the blow.

"Midoriya!" Kendo and Jirou's voices rang out in unison, panic lacing their words. They sprinted toward him, their eyes wide with alarm.

Spidermonkey's battered body trembled, exhaustion anchoring him to the ground. His breaths came in shallow gasps as if the very air had been knocked from his lungs.

Then, the piercing sound broke through the haze. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. The Omnitrix's ominous warning blared, loud and unrelenting, cutting through the noise of the battlefield.

Spidermonkey struggled, his fingers clawing at the dirt, his body refusing to rise. "N-No..." he croaked, his voice barely a whisper. His vision blurred as red light engulfed him.

"IZUKU MIDORIYA HAS TURNED BACK TO HUMAN!" Present Mic's voice thundered across the stadium. "MIDORIYA HAS REVERTED BACK TO HIS HUMAN FORM!"

The chaos around him stilled. Every pair of eyes locked onto the now-exposed Izuku lay trying to push himself up, the red flash of the Omnitrix fading.

"Midoriya is... human?" Awase muttered, disbelief hanging on his words.

Tsuyu's eyes glimmered with understanding. "He must've run out of energy," she said softly.

That realization sent a ripple through the remaining students. Then, like wolves spotting weakened prey, they charged, their eyes fixated on the 10 million point flag still clutched in Izuku's trembling hands.

Kendo and Jirou leapt in front of him, planting themselves as a human shield. "Damn it!" Jirou spat, jamming her jacks into the ground. "Midoriya, can you move?"

Izuku coughed, forcing words out between ragged breaths. "N-No... my body feels like lead..."

Jirou's face darkened, her resolve hardening. "We just need to hold on a little longer-"

Her words cut off as a barrage of Rin's scales pierced the ground around them, pinning her jacks in place.

"C'mon! It's just a fight for points!" Rin bellowed, advancing with a vicious grin.

Kendo's fists swelled to massive size as she stepped forward to meet up the charge. "This is bad," she muttered. "Even if we hold them off, we'll be down to the wire. Yaoyorozu wanted us to hold them off till the three minute marker."

Izuku ignored their chatter, his gaze falling to the Omnitrix. Its once-vibrant green core now glowed red, warning of its exhaustion. He let out a slow, weary sigh as Danger Sense flared in his mind, sharper than ever.

"Kendo... Jirou... get behind me," he said, his voice low but steady.

"Huh? What are you going to do?!" Jirou demanded, glancing back at him.

"You can barely stand!" Kendo added, her voice filled with worry.

Izuku planted his feet, forcing his trembling body upright. "Jirou," he began, his green eyes sparking with determination, "you wanted to know why I never use 100% of my Quirk, right?"

Kendo's breath caught. "Wait... what do you mean you don't-"

Izuku inhaled deeply, cutting her off. A faint smile touched his lips, though exhaustion hung heavy in his eyes. "Recovery Girl's going to kill me for this..."

Green lightning erupted from his body, crackling and surging with raw, untamed power. It spread across his limbs, arcs of electricity.

"100%!"

The world exploded.

BOOM.

The flick of his finger unleashed a torrent of force so immense it obliterated the battlefield.

A cataclysmic shockwave surged outward, flattening everything in its path. The air itself seemed to rupture, a deafening sonic boom tearing through the stadium.

The sheer wind pressure carved craters into the ground, ripping up earth and sending debris flying like shrapnel. Trees were uprooted, their trunks splintering into toothpicks under the force.

Todoroki's wall of ice cracked and shattered as if it were made of brittle glass. The dual-Quirk prodigy was flung backward, his usually stoic face contorted in shock. "Where does he get this kind of power?!"

Tetsutetsu braced himself, hardening his body to its absolute limit. Even so, the overwhelming force sent him tumbling like a ragdoll.

All across the battlefield, students were thrown into disarray. Bodies crashed into the ground, battered and stunned by the sheer magnitude of Izuku's attack.

For a moment, silence hung over the arena, broken only by the groans of the fallen. Dust settled slowly, revealing a scene of utter devastation.

Every pair of eyes turned to Izuku Midoriya, standing at the epicenter of the destruction.

...

Silence hung in the stadium like a storm about to break. Jaws dropped, and the crowd sat frozen, grappling with the enormity of what they had just witnessed. The level of destructive force Izuku had unleashed-replicating the hurricane-like power of a certain legendary hero with a single flick-was almost too much to comprehend.

The tension shattered with Present Mic's scream.

"UNBELIEVABLE! FOLKS, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS POWER?! ERASER, WHAT DID MIDORIYA JUST DO? HE... HE KNOCKED AWAY EVERYONE WITH A FLICK!" Mic's voice boomed, cracking with genuine disbelief.

Aizawa's voice was calm but tinged with a rare trace of pride. "Midoriya usually operates at about 8% of his true power. What you just witnessed was 100%-his quirk at full capacity."

Gasps rippled through the audience as realization sank in. That kind of raw, hurricane-like devastation had only ever been associated with one man.

Endeavor narrowed his eyes, his fiery gaze fixed on Izuku. "That boy... That power. It's unmistakable."

Hawks leaned back in his chair, his wings twitching as his sharp eyes analyzed the battlefield. "Only 8% until now? Either the kid's smarter than he looks, or he's got a reckless streak a mile wide. Still... seeing that kind of strength locked away-it's both terrifying and impressive."

Ryukyu cupped her chin thoughtfully, her soft voice cutting through the weight of the moment. "Holding back to that extent is both admirable and dangerous. I can see why he'd do it-to protect his classmates-but that level of restraint could cost him dearly in a real battle. Still, the sheer destructive force he showed just now..." She trailed off, her brow furrowed with both awe and concern.

Miruko, however, smirked, folding her arms confidently. "8%? That kid's been holding back this whole time and still made it this far. Gotta give him credit-he's tough. But it also shows how soft everyone else is if he can toy with them at a fraction of his strength." Her laugh was sharp, tinged with excitement.'This kid just keeps getting more interesting, he doesn't act or look like it but he's one tough kid.'

Endeavor scoffed, flames licking his shoulders as he sneered. "Holding back is foolish. He almost lost the flag because of his hesitation. It's a weakness, and my Shoto will show him just how costly that mistake is."

Hawks raised an eyebrow at Endeavor's remark but said nothing, his attention flickering back to Izuku, who now stood trembling from the strain of his effort.

In the stands, the murmurs of spectators grew louder.

"Wait, he's been fighting with only 8% of his strength?!" one person exclaimed, disbelief coloring their voice.

"No wonder he's been so careful-he must've been trying not to hurt his classmates," another spectator speculated, awe and understanding dawning in their tone.

"He might've been holding back, but did you see that? A single flick, and he flattened the entire field! Who even is this kid?"

"As you can see, 100% is quite powerful..." Aizawa began, his voice trailing off as the dust cloud surrounding Izuku began to clear. The crowd gasped in unison as they took in the sight of Izuku's injured hand.

Jirou's eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight of Izuku's finger, which was twisted at an unnatural angle. The skin was a deep purple, and the bone was visibly protruding from the skin.

"...But it's not because he's holding back out of some sense of mercy or weakness," Aizawa continued, his voice firm. "The reason he doesn't use 100% of his Quirk is because of the backlash."

Izuku clenched his fist, gritting his teeth in anger and pain. The sound of his bones cracking and shifting was audible, and the crowd winced in sympathy.

Aizawa's expression was grim. "The backlash literally breaks his bones when he uses 100% of his Quirk. It's a crippling side effect that he's been trying to keep under wraps."

The crowd was stunned, unsure of how to react to this revelation.

"Wait... his backlash is broken bones?!" someone in the stands shouted, their voice filled with both horror and disbelief.

"The fuck?! What kind of fucking backlash is that?"

"That's insane! Who the hell willingly does that to themselves?!" another person chimed in.

"Damn, what kind of power comes with a cost like that?!"

The murmurs spread like wildfire through the audience, a mix of awe and unease settling over the stadium as the realization sunk in.

...

In Class 3-A's viewing box, a collective wince rippled through the group as the camera zoomed in on Izuku's mangled finger.

Nejire let out an audible gasp, her wide eyes glued to the screen. "Whoa! Did you see that? That was amazing! But oh my gosh-his finger! That must hurt so much!" Her tone was an odd mix of admiration and concern, her bubbly energy unable to mask the wince on her face.

Mirio rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his expression serious. "That's one heck of a drawback... No wonder he doesn't use 100% all the time."

Amajiki, fidgeting with the hem of his uniform, added quietly, "Yeah... can you imagine what would happen if he used 100% throughout his whole body? It'd... it'd destroy him." His voice trailed off as the gruesome image lingered in his mind.

...

Ochako's eyes were wide with concern as she gazed from afar at Izuku's broken finger, her heart sinking at the thought of him hurting himself so badly.

Tsuyu, who had been caught in the hurricane attack alongside Hagakure and Yui, felt her heart break as she saw Izuku's injured finger. She looked like she had been punched in the gut, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.

Momo and Pony, who were still in the zone, had their eyes wide with surprise and concern. Momo clutched her chest, her face filled with worry. "That's what happens when you use 100% of your Quirk?" she thought to herself.

'I knew you had your reasons for holding back, Izuku, but... this could cause permanent damage to your body.'

Pony's eyes were shining with unshed tears as she looked at Izuku's broken finger. She felt a surge of protectiveness towards him.

...

Bakugou's breath came in ragged, wheezing gasps, each one clawing at his lungs like a knife. His body was screaming at him, battered and bruised from the gauntlet he'd run so far. Broken ribs sent sharp, stabbing pain through his torso with every slight movement.

His arms trembled from the strain of keeping up his relentless pace, and even the adrenaline coursing through him now was a flickering ember compared to the wildfire it had been earlier.

He glared at Kamakiri, whose blades gleamed menacingly in the sunlight. Bakugou's lips curled into a feral grin, but the tremor in his legs betrayed just how close he was to collapsing.

Small explosions crackled from his palms, weaker than usual, more flashes of light and heat than the concussive blasts he was known for. He ignored the warning signs his body was giving him.

Kirishima, panting heavily beside him, leaned on his knees for support. His hardened skin was scraped and cracked from their earlier skirmishes. "Bakugou... we gotta play it smart. Ashido and Sero already got a few flags." He gestured weakly toward the battlefield, where Sato, under control of a purple-haired kid, was tearing through their defense lines.

"Play it smart?" Bakugou growled through gritted teeth, forcing himself upright despite the agony ripping through his ribs. He looked at Izuku his finger broken he needed to get back the nerd and that orange haired bitch for putting him in this position.

"Screw that!"

With a hoarse roar, Bakugou launched himself forward, palms flaring with light. The explosion propelled him into the air, but it was smaller than usual, the force barely enough to clear the distance.

...

The rest of the students quickly regained their footing, rallying to continue the fight.

Kendo rushed toward Izuku, her eyes filled with concern as she grabbed his injured hand. "Midoriya, what the hell just happened?! Your finger-"

"I-I'm fine," Izuku said through gritted teeth, clenching his fist instinctively despite the sharp pain radiating from his broken finger.

"Don't clench your fist, you idiot!" Jirou snapped, grabbing his hand again to stop him. Her eyes flickered over his injury, her frown deepening as she exchanged a worried glance with Kendo. What alarmed them more than the injury itself was Izuku's demeanor-he wasn't screaming, flinching, or even wincing in pain.

Izuku winced slightly as the stabbing pain of Danger Sense shot through his head. He pulled his hand away abruptly, shaking off their concern. "Get ready!" he said firmly, his eyes locking onto the students who were already scrambling back to their feet.

From the other side of the battlefield, Monoma and Billy struggled to steady themselves after being rocked by the massive shockwave. Monoma's sharp glare turned into a smug grin, his confidence rekindled as he watched the students regroup.

"Why are you trying so hard, Midoriya?" Monoma called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why don't you admit defeat already? A good hero knows when they've been beaten."

High above, Aizawa sighed and rolled his eyes. "Alright, pop quiz," he said, his voice carrying through the arena. "What happens to the human body when it's severely injured?"

Monoma's expression twisted in confusion. "What is he talking about?" he muttered to himself. Then, louder, he added, "Uh... let's see..."

Before he could finish his thought, a soft beeping sound drew everyone's attention. Izuku glanced down at the Omnitrix, its faceplate glowing bright green. His lips curled into a faint smirk, though tension lingered in his eyes.

The smirk was a nervous one, but there was a glimmer of something else-determination. Izuku pushed down the fear gnawing at him, the doubt whispering that he couldn't win. Instead, he clung to the feeling of confidence that surged through him every time he transformed. The power. The strength. The unshakable belief that, as an alien, he could do anything.

With a resolute breath, he pressed the Omnitrix button.

As the faceplate popped up and a holographic figure rotated into view, Shishida furrowed his brows, piecing together Aizawa's cryptic question.

"Stiffness in joints... muscle spasms..." Shishida began, his voice trailing off as a collective realization dawned across the group.

"Adrenaline."

The word echoed in their minds just as Todoroki stomped his foot into the ground. Thick, jagged ice shot forward, a glacier in motion, aiming to trap Izuku before he could act.

Izuku didn't hesitate. His hand slammed down onto the Omnitrix, and a brilliant green flash erupted, blinding the battlefield for a moment.

The light faded into a roaring inferno as flames erupted from within the icy structure. The intense heat melted Todoroki's ice instantly, sending thick clouds of steam and mist billowing into the air. The battlefield was obscured, shrouded in a ghostly haze.

Then, a figure stepped forward through the fog.

A low crackling sound echoed as flames flickered to life in his hands, illuminating his plant-like body. His voice was deep, rumbling with an unnatural resonance.

"SWAMPFIRE!"

Green, glowing eyes bore into Todoroki, unwavering and intense.

Jirou glanced at the timer, her voice breaking the tense silence.

4 Minutes and 10 seconds.

"Four minutes and ten seconds remaining. Green, the three-minute mark is ten seconds away," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos. "We just have to keep everyone here until time runs out."

Swampfire turned his gaze toward her, his flaming palms illuminating the battlefield. "Huh? But shouldn't we try and get back to the zone? Our points won't count unless they're there," he said, confusion evident in his tone.

"Forget that," Kendo said, her voice firm. "Hold them here-no matter what

Swampfire raised an eyebrow."Alright,I have been wanting to try a new super move." Swampfire said smirk.

"Lacquered Chain Prison: Vine Snare!" Swampfire bellowed, slamming his fist into the ground with incredible force.

The ground quaked violently under the blow. With a thunderous rumble, massive tree-like vines exploded skyward, their bark gnarled and imposing, their ghostly branches clawing at the sky.

The charging students, fueled by their desire to capture the flag, charged ahead with reckless abandon. Billy, his metal gauntlets at the ready, led the charge, his eyes fixed intently on Swampfire.

But Swampfire was unfazed, his grin growing wider as he unleashed the full fury of his Lacquered Chain Prison. The massive vines surged to life, sending out smaller, whip-like tendrils that snaked through the air with blinding speed.

All around, students from Classes A and B were caught in the deadly grasp of the vines. Monoma struggled, his usual smug grin replaced by a look of sheer frustration as the tendrils hoisted him into the air. Shishida, even in his beast form, found himself bound tightly, his strength no match for the relentless vines.

...

"Hey, that's my super move!" Kamui Woods shouted, his voice filled with both surprise and excitement.

"Yeah, but done better," Death Arms quipped with a smirk, earning a sharp glare from Kamui.

Kamui, undeterred, grinned with enthusiasm. "Double or nothing-this kid wins the whole thing! You in?"

"HA! More money for me!" Mt. Lady exclaimed, her excitement practically radiating as she slapped the table. "If you're so confident, how about triple or nothing?"

"Bet!" Kamui shot back without hesitation, extending a hand to seal the bet.

Death Arms could only sigh and sweatdrop at the spectacle.

...

"LOOK AT THAT! MIDORIYA'S USING A MOVE STRAIGHT OUT OF ANOTHER PRO'S PLAYBOOK! IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?! WAIT-SERIOUSLY... WE DON'T WANT TO GET SUED HERE." Present Mic shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium.

"We're fine," Aizawa replied calmly.

...

Todoroki's frost crept up his body, forming a shimmering coat of ice as he freed himself with a single sharp motion. The frozen tendrils shattered like fragile glass, fragments scattering across the ground. The air grew frigid, a biting chill radiating from Todoroki that made the temperature plummet.

Swampfire felt the sharp stab of Danger Sense screaming at him. His glowing green eyes locked onto Todoroki, his voice calm yet urgent. "Kendo, Jirou... get ready." Flames erupted from his palms, burning hotter and brighter than before as streaks of green electricity crackled across his body. "14%!"

Jirou swallowed hard as Todoroki's icy glare pierced through them like a knife. "This guy's... kinda terrifying."

Kendo nodded, her fists clenching. "Y-Yeah..."

Todoroki stomped his right foot into the ground with a thunderous crack, sending jagged shards of ice hurtling forward. A massive tidal wave of frozen spikes surged toward Swampfire, the icy assault freezing everything in its path, including the vines that had entangled his teammates.

Swampfire clenched his fists, heat rippling off his flaming hands. "14% One For All!" he roared, flames bursting forth in a torrent of molten orange and red. The heat radiated intensely as the flames coiled together, forming a spiraling inferno.

The two elemental forces collided with devastating impact. The freezing wave and searing inferno smashed into each other, their raw power creating a blinding explosion of steam and light. The impact was deafening-a thunderous roar that echoed across the arena.

The clash unleashed a violent shockwave. Superheated steam erupted into the air, obscuring the battlefield in a dense, scalding mist. The sheer force of the collision uprooted trees, shattered the frozen vines into a glittering storm of icy shards, and left deep scars gouged into the earth.

Spectators gasped as the wind pressure from the explosion rippled through the stadium, rattling the stands. Students from both classes were hurled backward like ragdolls, crashing into trees or skidding across the ground. The air itself seemed torn apart by the collision, the temperature shifting wildly between sweltering heat and bone-chilling cold.

Onlookers shielded their eyes from the swirling chaos as the arena was engulfed in steam and debris. The clash of heat and cold had left its mark-a battlefield transformed into a hellish mix of scorched earth and frozen remnants, a testament to the overwhelming power of the two fighters.

...

Silence fell over the stadium as the audience took in the devastation on the battlefield. The air was thick with steam, rising from the massive crater left in the wake of Todoroki and Swampfire's clash.

"Holy crap..." Death Arms muttered, breaking the silence.

"Just look at that crater," Kamui Woods said in awe. "The sheer scale of that attack... and they're just kids."

"Yeah," Death Arms agreed, his voice still filled with disbelief. "To think, that's the same kid from the Sludge Villain attack."

Present Mic's voice boomed, trying to cut through the crowd's confusion. "ERASERHEAD! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!"

Aizawa sighed, leaning forward with a calm but serious expression. "When Todoroki's ice and Swampfire's flames clashed, the rapid shift between extreme cold and intense heat caused a massive expansion and contraction of the air. The ice instantly turned to steam, creating a violent pressure build-up. Add the kinetic force behind both attacks, and the result was an explosion."

"This is just a preview," Aizawa continued flatly, his tone unreadable. "If they both make it to the finals, you'll see more of this."

...

Explosions echoed across the stadium, drawing everyone's attention toward Monoma's zone. Bakugou, with a furious blast, sent Kamakiri and Shinso flying, his determination fueling every strike.

"BAKUGOU IS ROCKETING HIS TEAM TO SECOND PLACE!" Present Mic shouted, his voice electrifying the crowd as Bakugou's team surged up the leaderboard.

Leaderboard Update:

1. Team Todoroki

2. Team Bakugou

3. Team Monoma

4. Team Tetsutetsu

"Huh? Where's Team Midoriya?" a spectator questioned, scanning the leaderboard in confusion.

"Yeah, doesn't Midoriya have the 10 million points? Shouldn't he be in first?" another pro asked, furrowing their brow.

Midnight, ever the expert on the rules, cracked her whip for attention. "FLAGS NEED TO BE IN THE DESIGNATED ZONE TO COUNT!" she explained, her authoritative voice echoing through the arena. "MIDORIYA IS STILL HOLDING THE 10 MILLION POINTS, BUT SINCE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PLACED IN HIS ZONE, THEY DON'T COUNT YET!"

Meanwhile, back in Bakugou's zone, Mina sprinted toward their base, carrying two flags she had snatched from Monoma's zone during Bakugou's onslaught. Planting them firmly in their zone, she let out a triumphant breath.

"Got 'em!" Mina exclaimed, grinning despite her exhaustion. Her eyes flicked to the leaderboard, and her grin widened. "We're in second place now, and we're catching up!"

Time Remaining: 3 Minutes and 20 Seconds.

"MINA ASHIDO SECURES HER SPOT FOR HER TEAM! TEAM BAKUGOU IS BACK IN THE RUNNING!" Present Mic said.

...

Swampfire groaned as he lay sprawled in a smoking crater, the aftermath of his clash with Todoroki weighing heavily on his body. Every muscle ached as he blinked through the haze, his vision blurry but clearing. "Oh, man..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

He struggled to his feet, his body protesting with every movement. The sudden thought of the flag jolted him awake. He gasped and spun around, his hands frantically patting his back until he felt the coarse texture of Spidermonkey's webbing. The flag of 10 million points was still there, slightly singed but intact.

Swampfire exhaled a breath of relief, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness. His glowing green eyes scanned the clearing battlefield, the dense mist slowly dissipating to reveal the destruction left behind. Burnt ground, shattered ice, and uprooted trees painted a grim canvas of the battle's intensity.

"Kendo! Jirou!" Swampfire called out, his voice hoarse and raw. The only response was the eerie stillness of the battlefield.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out through the mist, serene yet commanding. "Crucifixion!"

Swampfire's body tensed, his head snapping toward the source. Before he could react, thick, living vines surged from the ground, coiling around his limbs with precision and lifting him high into the air. He thrashed against the restraints, but the vines only tightened their grip.

Emerging from the clearing mist was Ibara Shiozaki, her posture calm and resolute, hands clasped in a prayer-like gesture. "Please relent your points, Midoriya," she said, her tone composed yet unyielding. The vines constricted further, making Swampfire grimace. "And thank you."

"'Thank you'? For what?" Swampfire grunted, his struggles momentarily halting as confusion overtook him.

Her serene expression softened slightly. "Your clash with Todoroki freed me from the foul control of Monoma and his team. For that, I am grateful," she explained, her tone carrying genuine gratitude, though her vines did not relent.

"Oh..." Swampfire replied flatly, the revelation catching him off guard. "You're welcome, I guess? But I'd appreciate it if you let me go now."

Ibara's calm demeanor did not falter. "I cannot. The flag must be secured for my team."

Swampfire sighed, glancing at the vines holding him. 'I could break free, but I'd probably damage her hair. Hmm...' He furrowed his brow, an idea sparking in his mind.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the vines, willing them to release him. To his surprise, the vines began to loosen their grip.

Ibara's serene mask slipped as her eyes widened in shock. She poured her will into the plants, commanding them to hold tight, but Swampfire didn't relent. A silent tug-of-war ensued, the vines trembling under the conflicting commands. Finally, they yielded to Swampfire, slackening completely and dropping him to the ground.

"What...?" Ibara whispered, disbelief washing over her. The vines turned their attention back to her, coiling around her own body as if rebelling against her commands. She gasped, struggling in vain as they bound her arms and legs.

"He... beat me with my own vines," she muttered in shock, staring at Swampfire with wide eyes. For years, she had mastered the control of her hair, but now it had betrayed her.

Swampfire didn't linger, bolting toward the flag zone. He spared her one glance as the vines finally released her, dropping her to her knees.

Ibara sank to her knees, processing their events, clasping her hands together in silent prayer, her mind swirling with the name of her opponent. "Izuku Midoriya..." she thought, rising to her feet with renewed resolve.

Without hesitation, she regrouped with her team. She wasn't sure what she was feeling but her heart pounded just a little bit faster.

Swampfire trudged through the war-torn battlefield, his footsteps crunching against the debris. Before he could go any further, a familiar voice called out, sharp and cutting.

"Broccoli boy!" Kyoka's voice rang out, laced with both irritation and exhaustion.

Swampfire turned to see her approaching, slightly out of breath, her arms crossed. She had a few scrapes and bruises, dirt smudged on her cheek, but her glare was far more piercing.

"Jirou! Are you okay?" Swampfire asked, concern etched across his face.

Kyoka didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked up to him, raised one of her Earphone Jacks, and smacked his arm with it.

"Ow! What was that for?" Swampfire yelped, rubbing the spot.

"You and Todoroki nearly vaporized everyone with that stupid move!" Kyoka scolded, her tone sharp and dripping with exasperation.

Swampfire scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, trying not to wilt under her glare. "Uh... it worked though, didn't it?"

Kyoka jabbed her Earphone Jack into his shoulder again, making him flinch. "Barely! Next time, maybe give the rest of us a heads-up before you decide to reenact a disaster movie, genius!"

Swampfire chuckled nervously. "Noted. No more spontaneous elemental explosions. Got it."

Kyoka sighed, shaking her head. "You're lucky the flag's still in one piece. Otherwise, I'd be wrapping you up in those vines myself."

Despite her biting words, there was a faint hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. Swampfire noticed but wisely chose not to comment. Instead, he offered a small smile. "Thanks for looking out for me, Jirou."

She rolled her eyes but turned away with a flick of her elongated earlobe. "Just don't make me regret it, broccoli boy."

"Though, do you have to call me Broccoli boy?" Swampfire asked, his tone half exasperated, half hopeful. He much preferred the nicknames Green or Greenie. Still, for some reason, when she said it, his heart fluttered slightly, much to his own confusion.

Kyoka raised an eyebrow, her gaze trailing up and down his current plant-like form. "Uh, yeah? You're literally a walking salad right now."

Swampfire slumped. "Great..."

Kyoka tapped her chin, a sly smirk forming on her face. "Actually, you know what? Let's get creative. How about Fern Freak? No? Okay, Sprout Boy. Wait! Sapling Superstar. Or maybe Cabbage Head?"

Swampfire groaned, covering his face with a vine-like hand. "Please stop..."

But Kyoka was on a roll now. "Ooh, how about Leaf Lame-O? Or Plant Punk? Oh! Tree Hugger Hugged Himself!"

Swampfire peeked through his fingers, half mortified, half amused despite himself. "You're enjoying this way too much."

Kyoka shrugged, her smirk widening. "What can I say? You make it easy, Broccoli Boy."

Swampfire rolled his eyes."We should focus on getting back to our zone. We need to put our flag in our zone or it won't count."

Kyoka looked somewhat amused."Oh yeah you still have no clue do you?" Kyoka said smirking. She glanced at the timer.

2 Minutes and 15 seconds remaining.

"Well, time's almost up, so-" Kyoka began, but her words cut short as Swampfire's body jolted, his face twisting in pain. Danger Sense flared like a knife stabbing through his skull.

He spun around, scanning the battlefield with sharp, glowing eyes. His hands slammed into the ground with force, cracks spreading as thick roots erupted upward in an explosive motion. They snaked out with precision, ensnaring a blur of blue-the unmistakable figure of Tenya Iida mid-dash.

Kyoka stumbled back in shock, her wide eyes fixed on the roots that had trapped Iida mid-stride. "What the-!"

"Release!" a voice rang out from above.

Swampfire barely had time to register the sound before Ochako Uraraka dropped down on him like a thunderbolt, her movements silent and precise. Danger Sense didn't warn him-it wasn't triggered. His glowing green eyes widened in shock as her hands latched onto the 10-million-point flag strapped to his back.

"I've got it! Todoroki, now!" Ochako yelled, her triumphant shout echoing across the chaotic battlefield.

Swampfire whipped around, but too late. A cold, biting wind swept over the area, frost spreading like wildfire. Todoroki's ice wave froze the writhing vines that had trapped Iida, encasing them in jagged, crystalline shards. With a mighty stomp, Iida shattered the icy prison, shards scattering like glass in the sunlight.

His engines roared to life, the flames from his calves igniting in bursts of raw power. In a single motion, he lunged forward, his form a blur of blue and white as he snatched the flag from Ochako's hands. The two exchanged a brief nod before Iida rocketed away, the flag of 10 million points clutched tightly in his grasp.

Swampfire's heart sank, his glowing green flames flaring brighter in frustration as Iida zoomed past him. The speed was breathtaking, nearly impossible to track. Beside him, Kyoka's jaw dropped, her sharp hearing picking up every pulse of Iida's roaring engines.

"Midoriya just lost the 10 million points!" Present Mic's voice roared, electrifying the audience. "Iida and Todoroki are making their move! Can anyone stop them now?"

Swampfire's face twisted into a fierce scowl, the green flames in his palms igniting with ferocious intensity. His body began to hover slightly, the sheer heat from his flames propelling him upward as if gravity had loosened its grip.

"Midoriya, don't-" Kyoka's voice rang out, a mix of warning and desperation. "The flag's already-"

But Swampfire didn't listen. The moment her words reached him, he shot off like a comet, his flames erupting behind him in a blinding burst. The ground beneath him cracked and charred as the force of his propulsion left a trail of scorched earth.

A fiery streak tore through the battlefield, every ounce of his determination blazing in his glowing eyes. He wouldn't let them get away. Not without a fight.

Iida sprinted forward at breakneck speed, his legs a blur as he devoured the distance between himself and the safety of his team's zone. Swampfire, meanwhile, flew through the air at high speed, his flames burning bright as he gave chase.

But just as it seemed that Swampfire was about to overtake Iida, Todoroki struck from behind, unleashing a massive ice glacier that threatened to engulf everything in its path. Swampfire crashed violently through the glacier, his flames hissing and spitting as they struggled to penetrate the dense, icy barrier.

Todoroki quickly encased the other side of the glacier, trapping Swampfire inside. "TODOROKI INTERCEPTS MIDORIYA!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the stadium, his words echoing off the walls as the crowd held its collective breath.

Despair washed over Swampfire as he struggled to break free from the icy prison, his flames burning weakly as the cold slowly began to extinguish them. But it was too late, Iida had already reached the safety of his team's zone.

With a triumphant flourish, Iida twirled the pole in the air before planting it firmly in the frozen fortress that marked the boundary of his team's zone. The crowd erupted into cheers as Present Mic's voice rang out once more.

"TENYA HAS DONE IT! HE HAS TAKEN THE 10 MILLION POINTS FROM TEAM MIDORIYA! TEAM TODOROKI IS IN FIRST PLACE!" Present Mic's voice boomed, and the stadium erupted into thunderous applause. The crowd's cheers echoed through the arena, a deafening roar of triumph and excitement. Iida stood tall, the pole firmly planted in the ground, his chest heaving from exertion as the crowd showered him with praise.

In the stands, Ishida leaned back with a smug grin. "Told you he wouldn't make it to the third round."

Naomi's expression remained unreadable as she watched the battlefield, her eyes lingering on the shattered glacier.

Yubi groaned in frustration. "Ugh, this is so annoying!"

Ishida chuckled, basking in satisfaction as he glanced at the scoreboard.

Inside the icy prison, Swampfire struggled, his breaths labored as frost crept over his body. His flames flickered weakly, but his resolve was unshaken. I still have a minute... I just need to—

His thoughts were interrupted by a ripple of confused murmurs from the stadium. The crowd's cheers faltered, replaced by a wave of uncertain chatter.

"Hold on a second!" Present Mic's voice cut through the confusion. He stared at the leaderboard, his eyes widening in disbelief. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! MIDORIYA'S TEAM JUST SHOT BACK INTO FIRST PLACE!"

The crowd collectively gasped, their eyes darting to the scoreboard as Team Midoriya's name climbed to the top.

"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!" Present Mic shouted, his voice filled with astonishment. "THE LEADERBOARD SAYS TEAM MIDORIYA HAS TEN MILLION POINTS AGAIN!"

Aizawa's voice came through the speakers, calm but cutting. "Momo Yaoyorozu can create any non-living object… Did none of you consider she might create a decoy?"

Gasps rippled through the audience as realization dawned. Down on the battlefield, Iida stared at the flag in his hand, his heart sinking as he noticed the material felt oddly smooth. He tore away the remnants of Spidermonkey's webbing to reveal the truth.

On the flag was a picture of Yaoyorozu sticking out her tongue with a cheeky thumbs-up. Below the image were the words: Nice try.

The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers roaring in excitement.

The timer on the scoreboard read 1:45 as the crowd turned their attention to Team Midoriya's zone. There stood Momo, her posture proud as she brandished the real 10-million-point flag. Pony stood beside her, her horns hovering protectively in the air.

Inside the glacier, Swampfire's eyes widened as the realization hit him.

"Crap!" he hissed. "Head back to Midoriya's base! We need to take the flag from Yaoyorozu and Pony!"

The other teams scrambled as they surged forward.

"Midoriya's still trapped!" one of the students shouted. 'This is our chance!"

But before they could make a move, a sudden BOOM shook the battlefield. A surge of flames exploded outward as Swampfire erupted from the glacier, shards of ice scattering in all directions. His eyes burned with determination, his body crackling with heat as he hit the ground with a thunderous slam.

Vines burst from the earth, snaking across the battlefield with ruthless precision. Swampfire's control was relentless, his roots stopping students in their tracks as they attempted to charge toward Midoriya's zone.

Todoroki scowled, his expression hardening as he locked eyes with Swampfire. He moved swiftly, ice spreading underfoot as he dashed toward the flag.

But Swampfire was faster. With a fiery blast, he launched himself into the air, landing in front of Todoroki with a thunderous crash. His feet cracked as he planted himself like tree as he straightened, flames roaring in his palms.

"You're not getting through me," Swampfire growled, his voice low and filled with unyielding resolve.

Todoroki narrowed his eyes, frost gathering in his hands as the two stared each other down.

Shishida charged before he was suddenly stopped by a giant fist stopping him in his tracks he looked and saw Kendo her fist clenched."Oh no you don't."

...

Momo's eyes darted toward the zone as several teams began charging toward it, their desperation and determination palpable. She knew the crystal fortress's only entry point was the one Juzo had created earlier. Her grip tightened on the tungsten shield she'd crafted, steeling herself for the onslaught.

"Pony, get ready," Momo instructed, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "We have one minute left. All we have to do is hold them off."

Pony nodded, a confident smile on her face. "We can do it, Momo. No one's getting through us."

The first opponents to breach their defenses were Kosei Tsuburaba and Kojiro Bondo. "There it is!" Tsuburaba exclaimed, his eyes locking onto the flag. But the moment his foot hit the ground, he froze.

Click.

A powerful explosion erupted beneath them, blasting both Tsuburaba and Bondo out of the Diamondhead crystal fortress.

The shockwave rumbled through the structure as Momo and Pony ducked behind the shield, protecting themselves from the debris. As the dust cleared, another figure emerged—Setsuna Tokage. Her body split into dozens of fragments, the disjointed parts flying through the openings in the crystal walls.

Her hands reached for the flag with surgical precision. "Sorry, Kendo, but no way am I letting you win this!" Setsuna declared, her voice brimming with determination.

For a moment, it looked like she would succeed. But the instant her fingers grazed the pole, an electric jolt surged through her body. Setsuna let out a cry of surprise as her pieces reassembled and collapsed to the ground, twitching.

Momo let out a shaky breath, her smile tinged with relief. She glanced at the timer. "Okay... just a little longer," she murmured, pride swelling in her chest. My plan is working.

And then—BOOM!

The ground quaked as a deafening explosion tore through the fortress. Momo's heart sank as dread spread across her pale face.

Bakugou Katsuki barreled into the zone, smoke trailing behind him. His expression was a mask of fury, his voice like thunder as he bellowed, "PONYTAIL BITCH, HAND OVER THOSE DAMN POINTS!"

Momo instinctively moved in front of the flag, raising her shield just as Bakugou hurled a barrage of explosions toward her. She tried to track his movements, but he was too fast, weaving to the right in a blur of light and smoke.

"No!" Momo gasped as Bakugou's hand shot toward Pony, who widened her eyes in alarm.

But Pony reacted with a speed that caught even Bakugou off guard. Her horns rocketed forward, slamming into his side and throwing him off balance. "Momo, focus!" Pony shouted, her voice sharp and commanding despite the chaos. "We can't let him win!"

Momo nodded, her mind racing. She analyzed the situation with rapid precision. Bakugou is far stronger and faster. Midoriya's the only one who can stop him, but he's still fighting Todoroki… This wasn't part of the plan.

Another blast erupted, shaking the fortress. Momo braced behind the tungsten shield as Bakugou unleashed an even stronger explosion. The force of it sent her and Pony hurtling backward, slamming violently into the crystal walls.

Pain jolted through her body as her world spun. She watched in slow motion as Bakugou closed in on the flag, his hand outstretched. Self-doubt crept into her mind, wrapping around her like a vice.

This is my fault... Again. I've failed him, she thought bitterly. Her vision blurred as regret threatened to swallow her whole.

And then, like a beacon cutting through the darkness, she remembered Midoriya's face—his unyielding determination, his ability to rise even when the odds were insurmountable. His voice echoed in her mind: "Then let's get stronger together!" Her heart began to pound."So we can make sure we win as a team next time, no matter what happens."

Momo's chest tightened, and an ember of defiance sparked to life within her. She clenched her fists, her anger and frustration igniting into a roaring inferno.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling at first but growing stronger. Her body steadied as she forced herself back to her feet, ignoring the pain radiating through her limbs. Her eyes blazed with a renewed determination, a fire Midoriya himself would have been proud of.

Bakugou snarled, his hand inches from the flag.

...

Bakugou lunged toward the flag with a ferocious roar, but as his fingers brushed the metal pole, a sudden electric shock coursed through his body, forcing him to stagger back in pain. His body trembled, the shock momentarily paralyzing him. "Tch!" he growled, frustration boiling over as he unleashed a violent explosion against the pole. "DIE!"

Momo, still reeling from the blast that had sent her hurtling into the crystal walls, pushed herself up despite the sharp pain coursing through her body. She could feel her limbs aching, but she refused to give in. I can't give up. Not now. Not yet.

Her thoughts flickered to Midoriya—his battered form after the USJ incident, the unrelenting drive that had kept him going even when everything seemed impossible. Her heart fluttered, but she quickly shook the thought away. Focus, Momo. Focus on winning.

But her mind couldn't help but wander to the quieter moments—the moments when Izuku would be lost in thought in the dorms, his focus unwavering. Why am I thinking about him now? A warmth spread in her chest, but she couldn't afford to dwell on it.

No. I can't give up. I have to keep going. For everyone.

With renewed determination, she steeled herself, her eyes locking onto Bakugou's, still seething with rage. I have to keep pushing, just like he does, she thought, remembering Midoriya's words: "We'll get stronger together, no matter what happens." That unyielding determination was enough to fuel her own resolve.

I won't fail again, she thought firmly. Not today.

Raths' words rang in her ears: "You're all standing here at U.A., aren't you? That means you've already refused to give up. That means you've got what it takes to keep going."

"UH-OH, YAOYOROZU SEEMS TO BE TAKING ON BAKUGOU AS SHE STANDS AS THE LAST WOMAN AGAINST THE FLAG!" Present Mic's voice blasted across the stadium, amplifying the tension in the air.

Bakugou snarled, his palms crackling with the unmistakable heat of an explosion. "Listen, Pony-tail bitch, you're just an obstacle. Get the hell out of my way!" he sneered, his injuries starting to show. His energy was clearly waning, but his pride wouldn't let him back down.

Meanwhile, Swampfire's heart raced as he observed the scene from his ongoing battle with Todoroki. His mind spun with possibilities. Momo... she's the key. His eyes suddenly widened in realization.

I've done something like this before as Heatblast... but maybe I can adapt it to work here!

Swampfire thrust his hands into the air, flames and green electricity dancing around his palms. He grinned, a spark of inspiration lighting up his thoughts. This should work.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

With a mighty burst, he released a massive volley of firballs into the sky. Each explosion painted the sky with bursts of color, the bright lights reflecting off the arena below. As the final set of sparks fell, a bold message appeared in the air:"KACCHAN'S QUIRK RELIES ON SWEAT!" The crowd gasped in collective awe, the spectacle momentarily stunning everyone.

The crowd gasped in collective awe, the spectacle momentarily stunning everyone.

...

Bakugou's eyes widened in surprise as he turned toward Yaoyorozu, who was hidden behind the tungsten shield. With quick, efficient movements, she created a high-pressure water cannon, and before Bakugou could react, a powerful blast of water erupted from it, completely drenching him.

"What the—" Bakugou stumbled back, his palms sparking uselessly as the cold water doused him, his quirk refusing to ignite.

Yaoyorozu discarded the shield, her face set with determination as she charged forward. In her hand, she now held a canister. Bakugou's eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. Momo threw the canister at him, and it exploded on impact, releasing a cloud of nitrogen into the air. The temperature dropped dramatically, freezing the moisture on Bakugou's skin, rendering his sweat—and by extension, his explosive quirk—useless.

With her opponent incapacitated, Momo wasted no time. She swiftly created a steel bow staff and swung it with expert precision.

CRACK!

The staff collided with Bakugou's face, his head jerking violently to the side. Blood spattered from his mouth as the accumulated injuries from the battle took their toll. He collapsed to the ground, his body too battered and drained to continue.

Momo stood over him, chest heaving with exhaustion, but her eyes never wavered from the fallen warrior. Her voice, though firm, carried a quiet sense of resolve. "You underestimated me."

"MOMO YAOYOROZU TAKES DOWN KATSUKI BAKUGOU!" The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, sending the crowd into a thunderous cheer.

Bakugou glared up at her, barely able to move. "You bitch," he snarled, though his words lacked the usual fire. As the timer ticked down, Momo's victorious smirk remained steady, her composure unshaken.

TIMES UP!

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, spectators standing and clapping wildly in admiration. The energy was electric, echoing through the stadium.

"Holy crap! These first years are insane!" one onlooker exclaimed, their voice brimming with awe.

"I heard they get stronger every generation, but these kids are freakin' monsters!" another added, their gaze sweeping over the battlefield. "Midoriya and Todoroki practically tore the arena apart!"

The students on the battlefield finally came to a stop, their energy spent. Many collapsed to the ground, their battered and bruised bodies evidence of the grueling match.

Swampfire stumbled, falling to one knee. The Omnitrix began to beep loudly on his chest before engulfing him in a red flash. When the light faded, Izuku had returned, his body trembling with exhaustion. Nearby, Jirou and Kendo sank to the ground, equally drained.

Todoroki stood still, his hands clenched into fists as he replayed the match in his mind. Twice—he had used his flames twice. The realization twisted in his chest, filling him with quiet anger.

"Honestly, this year's group is the most reckless I've ever seen," Recovery Girl's voice rang out, her tone a mixture of exasperation and concern as she moved through the field. She planted kisses on each student, her green energy healing their injuries with precision.

As she approached Izuku, her presence suddenly shifted, radiating a murderous, almost predatory aura. Izuku felt a chill run down his spine, sweat forming on his brow.

"Oh, Midoriya, dearie..." Recovery Girl began sweetly, tilting her head. "You broke your bones again, didn't you?"

Izuku gulped, his finger hovering nervously over the Omnitrix. He frantically pressed the button, hoping for an escape. "Y-Yeah... I-I did..." he stammered, his voice trembling. The Omnitrix refused to activate, leaving him helpless.

Despite her outwardly kind tone, her eyes were sharp. "Even though you know how to use your Quirk without breaking your bones, you still chose to injure yourself?''

"I-I was surrounded!" Izuku blurted out, his thumb mashing the Omnitrix button in desperation. "I didn't want to lose the flag!"

"You mean the decoy flag?" Recovery Girl's sweet voice carried a razor-sharp edge.

Izuku froze, the weight of her words sinking in. "Y-Yes..." he admitted weakly.

A twitch formed on her forehead, and a moment later, loud thwacks echoed across the battlefield. Izuku lay sprawled on the ground, fresh bumps forming on his head as he groaned in pain. Nurse White approached with a sympathetic smile, placing a glowing hand on Izuku to restore his energy.

"Was that really necessary?" Nurse White asked, raising an eyebrow at Recovery Girl.

"He broke his bones for a game," she retorted, crossing her arms.

"...Fair enough," Nurse White conceded as Izuku's energy returned, the Omnitrix glowing green.

With a kiss from Recovery Girl, a healing light enveloped Izuku, mending his bruises and fractured finger. As his injuries faded, Izuku sat up, rubbing his head gingerly. "Recovery Girl's scary..." he muttered.

Kendo and Jirou, now fully healed, sat nearby, their eyes locked on Izuku with a mix of concern and disbelief.

"What?" Izuku asked, blinking at their intense stares.

"You break your bones when you use your Quirk?!" both girls shouted in unison.

Izuku flinched, raising his hands defensively. "Y-Yeah, but it's not as bad as it sounds!"

"How could you not tell us?!" Kendo demanded, her tone laced with hurt.

Izuku winced, scratching the back of his head nervously. "C-Can we talk about this later?" he pleaded.

Before they could press further, Momo and Pony approached. Izuku's eyes lit up when he saw Momo, and she couldn't help but beam back at him.

"H-How did you... when did you..." Izuku stammered, still in awe of her victory over Bakugou.

Jirou slung an arm around Momo, who blushed at the sudden contact. "We needed you to believe you were protecting the real flag," Jirou explained. "If you believed it, then everyone else would believe it too, especially with how hard you fought."

Kendo smirked. "Nobody questioned you had the flag because of how reckless you are. It was the perfect distraction."

Momo, however, lowered her head, her expression serious. "I'm sorry, Midoriya," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Izuku tilted his head in confusion. "Uh, for what?"

"If I'd told you my plan from the start, you wouldn't have broken your finger as a last resort. I'm sorry," Momo said, bowing deeply.

Izuku's eyes widened. "N-No! Don't worry about it!" he exclaimed, waving his hands. "Please, raise your head. It's fine, really!"

Momo straightened, still looking uncertain. But when Izuku smiled at her, his genuine warmth made her chest tighten. "You don't need to apologize. Your plan was incredible! I should be thanking you," he said earnestly.

Momo's cheeks flushed a deep red. "T-Thank you..." she murmured shyly.

"Plus," Jirou added with a sly grin, "watching you totally beat Bakugou's ass was hot."

Momo's face turned an even brighter shade of red as she sputtered in embarrassment.

"NOW THAT EVERYONE IS HEALED, GIVE IT UP FOR RECOVERY GIRL!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the arena, reigniting the crowd's excitement. "AND NOW, LET'S CHECK THE FINAL SCORES! WE'LL GO FROM BOTTOM TO TOP!"

...

"WE HAVE A TIE FOR FOURTH PLACE—TEAM SHINSO AND TEAM SHIOZAKI!"

The announcement was met with a mix of cheers and murmurs from the crowd. On the field, Monoma's jaw dropped in disbelief before he turned to glance at Tetsutetsu.

"You might've forced us into a team," Ojiro said, his voice steady with pride, "but we gave it everything we had!"

Tetsutetsu grinned fiercely, clenching his fist. "And we're coming back stronger in the third event!"

Monoma scoffed but extended his fist toward Tetsutetsu. "See you in the finals."

Tetsutetsu smirked and bumped fists with him. "Yeah."

"IN THIRD PLACE, THE EXPLOSIVE TEAM BAKUGOU!"

The crowd erupted into applause.

"Well, of course Bakugou was getting in," an Aldrea student commented dryly.

"No question about it," another agreed with a nod.

Even Yubi, observing from the stands, rolled his eyes but couldn't deny Bakugou's undeniable strength.

...

Bakugou's frustration was evident as he detonated a massive explosion, the air crackling with his anger. "Third place…?!" he yelled, his fists clenched tightly. Despite being fully healed by Recovery Girl, the sting of the results still gnawed at him.

Mina let out a sigh, looking at the scoreboards with a frown. "Man, we didn't even get second place," she said, rubbing the back of her neck. "Maybe I should've taken Midoriya up on his offer."

She groaned, gesturing toward Bakugou as she spoke. "Oh man, to think that Bakugou would zero in on one team... And just because they took our points first," she added, hands waving in frustration, trying to cool herself down.

Sero shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, but what matters is that we're still moving on."

Kirishima nodded in agreement but added, "Yeah, but I don't think our leader would agree with you."

"DAMN IT!" Bakugou's explosive outburst cut Kirishima off as he slammed his fist into the ground, his frustration evident in every word.

...

"IN SECOND PLACE WE HAVE TEAM TODOROKI! TOKOYAMI FUMIKAGE DEFENDED THE FLAGS WHILE THE REST OF HIS TEAM WERE ON THE OFFENSIVE!"

The stadium erupted in cheers.

...

"AND IN FIRST PLACE, TAKING THE TOP SPOT IN TWO EVENTS IN A ROW... TEAM MIDORIYA!"

The stadium erupted into thunderous cheers as the announcement rang through the air. Izuku stood still for a moment, his expression frozen as tears began to pool in his eyes.

"Oh no," Kendo groaned, a look of dread crossing her face. "Midoriya, please don't."

"P-Please hold it in!" Pony pleaded, inching back.

Kyouka sighed, already bracing herself. "He's gonna blow."

Sure enough, like a geyser, tears burst forth from Izuku's eyes with comical force, showering the group in an unexpected downpour. Momo, quick to act, created an umbrella to shield herself and the others.

Despite the scene, the girls couldn't help but smile fondly at him. Izuku's tears were filled with pure, unfiltered joy, and his happiness was contagious.

From the stands, Ochako watched the scene with a soft smile, her heart warm at the sight of Izuku's unrelenting passion.

Meanwhile, Todoroki stared down at his hand, lost in thought, his expression shadowed by silent introspection.

...

As the Sports Festival broadcast played live on the TV, Pro Heroes gathered in the lounge, captivated by the raw talent on display. Izuku Midoriya's performance had left most of them in awe, but none more satisfied than Kamui Woods, who leaned back with a wide grin plastered across his face.

Sliding his wallet back into his pocket, Kamui smirked. "Told you all he'd make it to the final round. Now, I'm just one step closer to fattening my wallet."

"Big deal," Mount Lady retorted with a sharp edge to her voice, arms crossed. "Just because he made it to the finals doesn't mean he'll win the whole thing." Her tone was laced with irritation, though her nervous fidgeting betrayed her. She'd underestimated the green-haired boy and was beginning to regret the wager. Losing fame was one thing, but money? That stung even more.

Death Arms leaned against the wall, his brows furrowed thoughtfully. "I have to admit, that kid's already fighting on par with an average pro… maybe even stronger."

Kamui Woods shot him a knowing look. "So, you're finally coming around? Think he can win the whole thing now?"

Death Arms shrugged. "We'll see after the next match."

Mount Lady frowned, tilting her head toward him.""What's that supposed to mean? You notice something the rest of us haven't?""Her voice carried a note of curiosity, though internally, she was beginning to suspect what Kamui had known all along—that Izuku Midoriya might just be unstoppable. Not that she'd admit it.

"You'll see,"Death Arms replied.

...

With the game over, Miruko stood with her arms folded, her sharp eyes fixed on Midoriya. A faint smirk tugged at her lips, a mix of admiration and intrigue crossing her face.

"Kid's got one hell of a Quirk, that's for sure," she thought, her gaze unwavering.

But what really caught her attention wasn't just his power—it was the way he used it. "Most people rely on their team to carry them, but this kid? He was practically doing it all himself. And fighting with a broken finger?" Her smirk deepened. "That's pretty ballsy.'

Despite her disdain for teamwork, Miruko couldn't deny that Midoriya's strategy and determination were something special. "He's doesn't look like it but kid is one hell of fighter, dangerous too.'

With that she left for the cafeteria with Ryukyu.

...

Midoriya looked at the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of cheering faces, a mix of awe and gratitude filling him. The applause was overwhelming, but it only fueled his determination for the next event.

Kendo stretched her arms above her head and sighed. "Man, let's head to lunch. I'm starving."

Momo nodded, her posture elegant yet tired. "Yes, I used a considerable amount of my lipids. I'd like to reach the food court as quickly as possible."

Jirou adjusted her earphone jacks and yawned. "Same here. We've got two hours before the next event, so let's make the most of it."

As the group began to move, Izuku felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Yui Kodai, her expression as neutral as always.

"Oh, Yui. W-What's up?" Izuku stammered, caught off guard by her sudden approach.

"Sorry," Yui said in her usual calm tone.

Izuku blinked, confused. "Uhm, for what?"

"I wanted to be on your team," she replied, her voice steady but with a hint of regret that only Izuku seemed to catch.

Her words left him speechless for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise. "But…"

Flashback

"Alright, Izuku needs a team. At least one person," Yui thought as her strides quickened toward her target.

Before she could reach him, however, Tsuburaba stepped into her path, a confident grin on his face. "Hey, Kodai! If you don't have a team yet, Monoma's—"

Yui didn't even let him finish. With a firm yet gentle grip on his arm, she moved him aside without breaking her stride, her focus sharp.

"Hey, Kodai!" Another voice interrupted—this time Sen Kaibara. His nervous demeanor and the faint pink on his cheeks made it clear what he was about to say. "If you're looking for a team, I was hoping we could—"

"Sorry, no thank you," Yui replied bluntly, giving him a polite bow before resuming her march. She didn't spare a glance at Sen, who stood there, deflated but understanding.

Just as she was about to call out to Izuku, a group of General Studies students swarmed her, their voices filled with excitement.

"Kodai, that was incredible!"

"Yeah! The way you handled the race—amazing!"

Yui struggled to break through the crowd, her neutral mask almost cracking with frustration. By the time she managed to push past them, she saw Mina and Ochako stepping away from Izuku. Relief flickered across her face—until she saw Izuku glancing at others for potential teammates.

"He's asking people," she thought, her calm exterior hiding the growing panic inside. "I need to hurry!"

She surged forward, only to be stopped once more, this time by Setsuna Tokage, her playful grin as sharp as ever.

"Hey, girl! Wanna team up?"

Before Yui could answer, her attention snapped back to Izuku. To her dismay, Kendo, Pony, and Momo had already gathered around him, forming his team.

Her heart sank as she watched them solidify their group. Though her expression remained stoic, her mind screamed in frustration: "NOO!"

Flashback over

Yui looked down, a hint of sadness crossing her features. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "If I had yelled, maybe you would've asked me to join your team."

Izuku felt a stab of guilt pierce his chest. He hadn't thought Yui would want to be on his team. She often wore a neutral expression, and her cool demeanor reminded him of the mean girls back in Aldrea—at least, that's how he'd initially seen her. But the more he got to know Yui, the more he realized she was actually shy in her own way. She wasn't the best at expressing herself or showing emotions, but Izuku knew she was kind and caring. He couldn't help but feel guilty for not even considering her.

"But since you didn't ask me," she added, her voice calm but tinged with disappointment, "I guess you probably didn't want me on your team."

Izuku's guilt deepened, and he spoke quickly, trying to make things right. "I'm sorry... I honestly wish I had asked... you too."

Yui's face flushed a faint pink, her usual stoic expression softening just a bit. "Really?"

"Mhm." Izuku nodded, his response simple yet genuine.

Her eyes softened as she processed his words, and a slight shift occurred in her demeanor. "Next time, I promise you'll be the first person I ask," Izuku added, eager to reassure her.

Yui blinked at him, her neutral expression almost imperceptibly easing. "I'll hold you to that," she replied, her voice steady, though there was a subtle warmth in her gaze.

Izuku was about to say something else, but Yui suddenly spoke again, her tone flat but serious. "I'm going to hug you now."

Izuku froze. "What?"

Before he could react, Yui closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around him in an unexpected, firm hug. Izuku's face exploded into a deep blush, his body stiffening in shock. His heart pounded as he tried to process what was happening, caught off guard by her sudden embrace.

...

Jirou and the other girls blushed at the sudden display of affection from Yui.

"Midoriya," a voice cut through the moment, and Izuku turned to see Todoroki standing there, his expression serious.

"We need to talk. Privately," Todoroki said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Izuku glanced around, taking in the scowling Cemento and the enormous crystals scattered across the area. "Oh, uh, sure, but...," he hesitated, unsure of how to navigate the situation. Todoroki nodded curtly before turning around and walking away without waiting for further explanation.

Kyouka raised an eyebrow, watching Todoroki walk off. "What do you think he wants?" she asked.

Izuku shrugged, his curiosity piqued but not enough to let it distract him. Without missing a beat, he dialed the Omnitrix and slammed it down in a flash of green light.

"I've got work to do," Diamondhead said, his voice now gravelly, his sharp edges gleaming in the light.

Kyouka, however, looked a little uneasy. "Green's probably going to be mad if he catches me," she muttered.

...

Ishida seethed, frustration twisting his face as he stumbled toward a secluded corner of the arena, a bottle of alcohol dangling loosely from his hand. The cheers from the crowd were like nails on a chalkboard, but he couldn't escape the sound, muttering curses under his breath as he fumed.

"Dammit! What the hell is up with Bakugou?" Ishida grumbled, his words slurred. The alcohol wasn't enough to dull the sting of his own failure.

"I know, right?" A girl's voice replied, her tone dripping with bitterness. "Must've been some kind of stunt to give Deku hope, just so he can crush him in the finals. Typical."

Yubi's eyes narrowed, and he snatched the cigarette offered to him, but shook his head, rejecting it. "If you all are blind, then you missed it. Midoriya actually pulled it off. Even the Pro Heroes saw that."

"Yeah, right," Ishida sneered, dismissive. "The Pro Heroes don't know shit. They're as useless as everyone else. This world only respects the strong, and Deku was born weak. That's how he'll stay."

Yubi's anger flared, his jaw tightening. "Jesus, you're either delusional or just plain stupid!" he snapped, voice harsh.

Yubi took a step forward, his frustration boiling over. "The guy made it to the third event. And he got first place in both! He's proven himself more than any of us ever did. And let's not forget that he stood up when no one else would, even when he was quirkless. That takes more guts than any of you could ever hope for."

"L-Look, Yubi," Naide interjected, a hand outstretched in an attempt to calm him down. "You're overreacting about Deku—"

Yubi slapped Naide's hand away, his fury exploding. "Don't touch me," he snarled. "He's Izuku Midoriya. And you know what? He was the nicest guy in class, in this whole damn school. Now he's got people who actually care about him. People who see something we missed. We're lucky he didn't turn into a villain after all the shit we put him through. Instead, he saved us, protected us. If anyone had the right to put us on a kill list, it was him. And it would've been justified!"

Ishida scoffed, rolling his eyes. "What's your deal, huh? Acting like we did something wrong."

Yubi's voice dropped, now colder, more deliberate. "You really don't get it, do you?" His tone was ice-cold as he continued. "He deserves so much more than you ever gave him. You think you can just dismiss everything he's been through? You think we can just pretend we didn't bully a guy who couldn't even defend himself? We treated him like dirt, and you know what? I'm done pretending it was okay."

The group shifted uncomfortably, but no one spoke up. The weight of Yubi's words hung heavily in the air.

"I can't stand being around you people anymore," Yubi muttered, his anger still simmering. "I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?" Naomi called out, confusion in her voice.

"Anywhere but here," Yubi shot back, voice harsh. "I can't stand being around you monsters anymore."

Naomi blinked in disbelief. "You actually like Deku or something? What's wrong with you?"

Yubi spun around, his eyes blazing. "You want to know what's wrong with me?" he demanded, voice rising, raw with emotion. "I'm disgusted with myself. And I'm disgusted with all of you!" His fists clenched at his sides. "We all said we wanted to be heroes, but we're the furthest thing from it. We're the exact opposite. We're not heroes, we're monsters."

He paused, his breath heavy with the weight of his words. "We bullied the hell out of a guy who couldn't even fight back. Hell, we told him to kill himself!" His voice cracked with the sharp sting of regret. "Now we're sitting here pretending to be heroes, when we're really just assholes who didn't care."

Someone in the group tried to protest, but Yubi was beyond listening. "Well, it might as well have been us," he snapped, cutting them off. "We all stood by, letting Bakugou get away with it, only for the same guy we bullied to be the one to save our asses. You know what that makes us? Villains. We're the monsters in this story, and he's the hero."

Yubi's voice trembled with a mix of guilt and frustration. "He didn't deserve any of that. And now, he's the one proving us all wrong. And we're just sitting here, pretending like it's fine."

The group fell into a heavy, uncomfortable silence. They couldn't escape the truth that lingered in the air.

Ishida shrugged nonchalantly, but his words lacked any real conviction. "Whatever, he's still weak," he muttered, clearly trying to dismiss it, but the emptiness in his voice betrayed him.

Yubi's eyes narrowed, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. "You still don't get it," he said quietly, his tone cold. "He proved us all wrong. If you're too blind to see that, then you're pathetic. All of you."

With that, Yubi turned away from them, his steps purposeful and resolute as he walked off. Yubi's anger was palpable, the frustration seething from him like smoke. He turned to leave, but then he heard Ishida scoff. A jolt of electricity crackled through the air as Ishida fired a bolt, hitting the ground just in front of Yubi, stopping him in his tracks.

"Listen, Yubi," Ishida said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I hate to break it to you, but crying over what we did to Deku isn't going to change a damn thing."

Yubi clenched his fists, the weight of his regret making it hard to breathe.

Ishida stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Let me break down how the world works for you," he said, his tone smug, confident. "The world wants power. It respects strength. Everything else doesn't matter."

"Take Bakugou, for example," Ishida continued, his voice growing more pointed. "You think he's changed a single bit since middle school?" Ishida's eyes narrowed, but his smirk remained. "You saw it, didn't you? How he attacked Deku. Hell, I don't have superhearing, but judging by how pissed that pink girl was, he's still calling people those shitty nicknames. You know what that is? Mutant slurs, man."

Yubi's blood boiled, frustration bubbling to the surface. His knuckles were turning white as he clenched his fists tighter.

"You know why Bakugou gets away with it? You know why people tolerate his behaviour?" Ishida went on, his voice sharp, as though he was reveling in Yubi's pain."Why someone like him has so many people ready to follow him?"

He gestured to the arena where Bakugou had been walking with Kirishima, Kaminari and Sero it was clear he told them to fuck off and leave him alone as he went into a tunnel.

"Because he's got power. A quirk so damn strong that no one cares how much of a jerk he is. How he attacks or insults people without batting an eye. How he completely ignores his teammates. Take that Octopus guy from Class 1-A, what's his name? The octopus freak, yeah. Bakugou calls him that, and everyone lets him get away with it. Why?"

Yubi's fists trembled with anger.

"Because Bakugou has power, Yubi," Ishida spat. "He's got a great quirk, combat sense like nobody else, and he's got the brains to back it up. No one cares that he's a bastard to people. No one cares that he bullies Deku, that he's been doing it for years. Hell, no one even cares that he used his quirk to hurt someone, even though that's illegal. You know what would happen if Deku spoke up about it?"

Yubi turned, refusing to look Ishida in the eye, but Ishida pressed on.

"All they'd say is, 'Oh, he's changed. He's working to be a better hero now.' They'd go on about how he's done this and that to prove himself. But in reality, what they are saying is 'Who cares?' It doesn't matter how much he used his quirk to hurt someone. Doesn't matter that it was illegal. Doesn't matter that he treated someone like crap for years." Ishida leaned closer, sneering.

"All that matters is that he's got power. That's it. Our society doesn't care about what you did in the past, not as long as you're strong enough to pull off some heroic stunt and get the spotlight. All a hero has to do is something heroic in front of the public, and everything they've done, all their dirty laundry, gets washed away like it never happened."

Yubi's breath hitched in his chest, his frustration reaching its breaking point. His fists trembled harder, the blood dripping from his knuckles.

Ishida's smirk grew wider, almost mocking. "So go ahead, feel bad for Deku. But I'm telling you right now—no one's going to share your sympathy. That's just how it works."

Yubi couldn't stand it anymore. He turned sharply, refusing to face the group. His blood dripped onto the ground, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He walked away

...

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