"Hey, you... how did you dodge that?!"
Bakugo stared in shock at Tetsutetsu, who had somehow managed to move from directly in front of him to the left sideline. Caught up in trying to figure out how his opponent had escaped, he momentarily forgot about the intense pain in his arms.
"Heh."
Tetsutetsu gave a small, smug grin, but he wasn't going to explain. No one noticed that his right leg was trembling slightly. The technique he'd just used would have seriously injured anyone else if they hadn't trained for it.
In truth, he hadn't fully mastered this move. It was something he'd pulled off on instinct, more of a "lucky escape" than a fully controlled technique. To put it bluntly, he'd used it like a makeshift teleport.
Yes, he'd somehow managed to utilize the Marine-style technique "Shave," but barely. He'd been fortunate to dodge the blast radius of Bakugo's Howitzer Impact, and he knew it.
"Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said as he took a step closer, "after using that huge explosion, your Quirk probably needs a moment to recover!"
He continued to approach Bakugo, voice steady, "If you admit defeat now, at least you'll lose with a little dignity."
"Hahahahaha!"
Bakugo's arms trembled, but he grinned through the pain, his eyes filled with defiance. "You really think you've won, don't you? Ironhead?!"
"Listen up, I might not be able to use my Quirk right now, but I'm not done!"
Bakugo's voice was fierce, filled with an intense resolve. "If you want to beat me, you'll have to work for it, you steel bastard!"
Tetsutetsu wasn't surprised by Bakugo's answer. After all, he knew this guy's stubbornness.
"In that case, I'm not holding back."
He took a step forward, determination burning in his eyes. "I want to reach Kaminari in the finals..."
With that, Tetsutetsu, his body hardened into steel once again, surged forward. This time, he went in with his hands instead of his legs.
Bakugo didn't retreat. He could have bought time to recover his Quirk, but that wasn't his style. He wanted to win, but more than that, he wanted to win on his terms. Running away wasn't an option.
So, Bakugo braced himself, his sharp gaze fixed on Tetsutetsu's movements, analyzing every shift in stance. Without his explosions, he'd have to rely entirely on his reflexes.
"Whoosh!"
"Wham!"
Tetsutetsu's fists came swinging in heavy arcs, but Bakugo's agility allowed him to dodge each strike with almost unnatural precision. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the onslaught of punches and kicks. His raw instincts were on full display, showcasing the kind of fighting talent that set him apart.
Despite the intense pressure from Tetsutetsu's attacks, Bakugo was managing to hold his ground, frustrating his opponent with each missed strike. Every time Tetsutetsu threw a powerful punch, Bakugo sidestepped it. When Tetsutetsu went for a kick, Bakugo leaned back just far enough to avoid getting hit.
The professional heroes in the audience watched with wide eyes. Bakugo's erratic, yet precise, dodges were a sight to behold, displaying an almost feral sense of survival.
"Is this kid... a genius or something?" one pro hero muttered in awe.
But just when Bakugo was getting used to the rhythm, Tetsutetsu did something unexpected.
"Boom!"
This time, instead of throwing another punch or kick, Tetsutetsu stomped hard on the ground, sending a spray of loose cement rocks flying like shrapnel. The debris, remnants from Bakugo's earlier explosions, hurtled towards him with alarming speed.
Caught off guard, Bakugo couldn't dodge all of it. Several pieces of jagged cement struck him, causing him to stumble. The pain forced a groan from his lips, and his movements faltered.
"Gotcha!" Tetsutetsu growled, seizing his chance.
In one swift move, Tetsutetsu closed the distance, grabbed Bakugo, and used his judo training to lift him into the air. Without a moment's hesitation, he hurled Bakugo towards the edge of the arena, aiming to throw him out.
The battle had reached its peak.
"LET GO, YOU BASTARD!"
As Bakugo was airborne, he managed to free one arm. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he fired off an explosion at Tetsutetsu's head.
"BOOM!"
Both fighters went crashing down, engulfed in a cloud of smoke and dust. The dull thud of a heavy impact followed, echoing across the silent stadium.
As the smoke cleared, everyone held their breath.
Tetsutetsu was standing.
Bakugo was sprawled on the ground… just outside the boundary line.
"Tetsutetsu wins by ring-out!"
Midnight, the referee, raised her voice to announce the result, flicking her whip dramatically as she declared, "Bakugo Katsuki is out! Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu advances to the finals!"
Tetsutetsu, still standing at the edge of the ring, looked down at Bakugo, who was glaring up at him with a mixture of anger and disbelief.
"Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said calmly, "I'm just following my own path… a promise I made to myself."
He then turned and looked up toward the Class 1-A section, where Kaminari was standing, a faint smile on his face.
"Kaminari… see you in the finals."
As Tetsutetsu walked away, the crowd finally erupted, cheering wildly. The entire stadium was electrified, stunned by the unexpected result.
"I never thought Bakugo would actually lose!!"
"Yeah, I thought he was a shoo-in for the finals! I mean, with his attitude and strength, he seemed unstoppable!"
"What's the name of that steel guy again? Tetsutetsu, right? Total dark horse!"
Meanwhile, in the Class 1-A stands, his classmates were equally shocked.
"I... I can't believe it…" Mineta stammered. "Bakugo actually lost?"
Ashido's mouth hung open. "Tetsutetsu… he just… he just became a total dark horse in this competition!"
Even Midoriya was struggling to process what he'd seen. "K-Kacchan… he… he lost… to Tetsutetsu?"
Todoroki, who'd been watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. Even he hadn't expected Bakugo to lose.
But Kaminari wasn't particularly surprised. He'd seen something change in Tetsutetsu recently, a calm confidence and a determination that had taken his skills to another level.
Looks like Tetsutetsu's been holding back more than I thought, Kaminari thought, a faint smile crossing his lips. He began to piece together a theory, remembering a few hints he'd picked up on.
If he's mastered 'Shave,' then his combat style is on a different level now. An opponent who combines iron defense, raw strength, and speed? Yeah, that's gonna be tough.
He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, already thinking of ways he might have to adapt for their final showdown.
***
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