**Chapter 33: The Race to the Finish**
Natsu surged forward like a blazing comet, the fiery wings around him propelling him toward Todoroki. In the distance, Todoroki flew through the air, the intense flames from his left foot lifting him above the treacherous minefield. His hair, whipped by the wind, danced in the heat as he navigated the course with precision. His cold, focused expression never faltered, even as the roar of explosions behind him signaled that Natsu was not far behind.
On the ground, Natsu's feet moved with unparalleled speed. Each step he took triggered a mine beneath him, sending pink smoke and fiery blasts into the air, but Natsu's momentum was unstoppable. The explosions seemed to chase him, but his sheer speed allowed him to outrun the detonations, moving through the pink smoke with a confident grin on his face.
"Something like this won't stop me!" Natsu declared, his voice barely audible over the chaotic blasts. The heat of the battlefield only seemed to fuel his fire.
Todoroki, sensing the ground shake beneath him from the relentless explosions, glanced back. His eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of Natsu's fiery trail cutting through the smoke. "You're stubborn... and reckless," he muttered, unable to deny the relentless force behind Natsu's determination.
Not far behind, Bakugo soared through the air, his hands continuously blasting explosions to keep him airborne. But despite his effort, an unmistakable scowl covered his face. His frustration grew with each passing second as he realized he wasn't closing the gap. He could see Todoroki and Natsu ahead, but no matter how many explosions he used, they remained just out of reach.
Meanwhile, Midoriya was bounding across the minefield, the green lightning surrounding his body crackling with energy. He leapt from one spot to the next, carefully avoiding the mines, but each explosion that erupted around him sent him flying like a feather caught in the wind. Behind him, other students like Iida and Yaoyorozu struggled to keep up, each facing their own trials on the field.
**Yamada's voice echoed across the stadium**, filled with excitement: "What an unbelievable display of power! Natsu, Todoroki, Bakugo—they're all pushing themselves to the limit! But who will cross the finish line first?! The competition is fiercer than ever!"
The crowd roared, their excitement surging as the race between Todoroki and Natsu grew more intense by the second. It was clear that this was the moment everyone had been waiting for—the decisive clash between two titans.
Todoroki was the first to exit the minefield, his feet barely touching the ground as he soared toward the narrow tunnel leading to the finish line. His fire lit up the dark passage as he entered, the glow casting long shadows on the walls. For a moment, Todoroki thought to himself, *This is it. Victory is mine.* His fire burned brightly, illuminating the path ahead.
But behind him, Natsu charged out of the minefield, his body bearing small patches of soot from the explosions he'd braved. Unlike Todoroki, who flew over the danger, Natsu had plowed straight through it, emerging singed but unyielding.
As Todoroki sped through the tunnel, a sudden pang of anxiety flickered across Natsu's face. Was it possible? Was he truly going to lose?
Then, just as quickly as the thought entered his mind, Natsu's eyes widened. He felt something—a familiar heat ahead of him. It was the fire emanating from Todoroki's foot. Without missing a beat, Natsu opened his mouth wide.
**WHOOSH!**
In an instant, Natsu inhaled all of Todoroki's flames, consuming them as if they were a meal. Todoroki's fire extinguished abruptly, leaving him to tumble to the ground, rolling across the tunnel floor. Dazed, Todoroki blinked in confusion. "What… what just happened?"
Before Todoroki could process what had occurred, Natsu dashed past him, his body a blur of fiery light. "Thanks for the meal!" Natsu called back, his voice brimming with confidence as he sped toward the exit.
Todoroki, still lying on the ground, stared after Natsu in shock, struggling to comprehend the situation. He clenched his fist. *No… this can't be the end.*
Scrambling to his feet, Todoroki slammed his right foot against the ground, his mind racing. "If I can't catch him… I'll stop him!" His voice was filled with determination as he unleashed a torrent of ice, intending to freeze the tunnel and block Natsu's path.
"**Freeze!!**"
Massive shards of ice erupted from the ground and walls, their jagged edges glinting as they spread across the narrow passage, threatening to encase Natsu. The ice crackled and snapped as it filled the tunnel with cold, white mist.
But Natsu was undeterred. His legs ignited with fiery intensity, and with one powerful stomp, the ground beneath him cracked and shattered under the force of his flames. "I won't let anything stop me now!" he roared.
**FOOSH!**
With an explosion of speed, Natsu surged forward, leaving behind a fiery trail as he barreled toward the exit. In the blink of an eye, he burst through the tunnel's entrance, flames blazing around him as he emerged like a shooting star.
The ice Todoroki had created stopped just at the tunnel's edge, creeping to the entrance and freezing the ground. White, cold mist rose from the ice, but it was too late to halt Natsu's advance. He had already crossed the threshold.
The arena fell silent for a moment, as if in disbelief. Then, as Natsu stood at the finish line, his body still smoldering from the flames, he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. With a satisfied smile, he raised his hand in victory, his expression one of pure triumph.
The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, their cheers reverberating through the arena as they celebrated the incredible display of power and will. Yamada's voice could barely be heard over the excitement. "HE DID IT! Natsu Dragneel has won! What a finish! What a fight! This is a moment for the history books, folks!"
Even in his hidden room, Shigaraki watched the broadcast, his lips curling into a frown. "That brat... He's going to be a real problem."
Back at the tunnel, Todoroki's eyes narrowed in frustration. He hadn't anticipated Natsu's ability to consume his flames. But this wasn't over. Todoroki placed his hand against the ice he had created and slowly began to melt it with his remaining fire, clearing the way for the other students. He was the second to reach the finish line, but as he stepped over it, he clenched his fist.
*This is just the beginning. The festival isn't over yet.*
The race had ended, but the real competition was only just starting.
.
.
~ More Chapters;
patr eon. com/Ayaka0