The effects of Kaminari's high-voltage electricity were starting to take their toll on Todoroki. The searing pain and numbing paralysis threatened to overwhelm him, nearly breaking his focus and pushing him to the edge of consciousness.
But even in this desperate situation, Todoroki's determination held firm. He was a "genius," after all—gifted with abilities that set him apart from others, in every possible way.
With a surge of cold air, Todoroki pushed himself to the limit, letting the frost on his right side pour out without restraint, even if it meant risking frostbite.
Crack, crack, crack.
In an instant, under the extreme cold, his entire body was encased in ice. Despite being mid-air from Kaminari's earlier kick, Todoroki managed to react, forming a solid layer of ice around himself to brace for the impact.
Simultaneously, thin sheets of ice began to form in the air around him, attempting to slow Kaminari's relentless approach. But it was futile.
In his high-voltage mode, Kaminari's electricity generated intense heat, causing the ice and cold mist surrounding him to melt almost instantly as he drew closer.
Boom!
Crack!
Another powerful blow from Kaminari sent Todoroki flying even higher, a trail of white mist marking his trajectory. And within seconds, a streak of golden lightning shot up to follow him, moving several times faster than before.
On three sides of the stadium, the audience sat mesmerized, while those watching from home witnessed a spectacle that would be seared into their memories forever.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of thunderous impacts echoed through the arena as Kaminari continued his high-speed assault. From a distance, he looked like a golden blur, weaving through the sky and creating streaks of light that left afterimages in the air. Each time he struck, a blast of electric energy and a sharp crack of ice resounded, with Todoroki ricocheting through the sky like a battered ragdoll.
"This… this…" Kyoka muttered, staring up at the display in stunned silence. Her mind was blank, save for one overwhelming realization.
"This is Kaminari's power?"
All around her, the crowd remained in a state of awe, their eyes fixed on the battle above, unable to tear themselves away.
"Are they really just first-year students? Are they even students at all?"
"This level of combat… it's beyond most Pro Heroes!"
Even Present Mic, the usually energetic announcer, was at a loss for words, his eyes wide with disbelief as he watched the two figures collide in mid-air.
"How much longer can they keep this up?" he muttered to himself, though his voice was amplified by the speakers, making everyone in the arena hear his concern. "If this keeps going… Todoroki's going to reach his limit."
On the other side of the stadium, Endeavor's composure was starting to crack. Gone was his usual stoic stance, replaced with a tense posture as he watched his son, his face dark with concern.
"Hmph…"
The flames on Endeavor's body flickered more intensely, flaring up as if in reaction to the tension. Kaminari's earlier words echoed in his mind:
"You keep talking about Todoroki's 'full power,' but have you ever seen my full power?"
"With all due respect… if I went all-out, he'd be dead already."
For a brief moment, Endeavor found himself believing Kaminari's words.
Boom!
Wham!
Finally, the chain of strikes in the sky came to a dramatic end as Kaminari unleashed a particularly powerful blow. Todoroki was sent hurtling downward, the force breaking through the sound barrier and sending him plummeting like a falling meteor.
"Oh no!" Midnight gasped. "This is bad!"
As Midnight, Cementoss, and the other teachers prepared to intervene, Kaminari landed back on the tip of the iceberg he'd created earlier, his gaze cold and unwavering as he looked down at Todoroki's descending figure.
"Todoroki… you won't die from this, but if you hit the ground, you're definitely going to be hurt."
Just as Todoroki was about to crash into the ground, something changed. His falling figure started to glow with a faint red hue.
Wait… no. It wasn't just a glow. It was…
Boom!
A roaring pillar of fire erupted from Todoroki's body, engulfing the air around him and stopping his fall. The inferno expanded in all directions, so intense that anything that got close—including the teachers rushing to help was pushed back by the searing heat.
"Oh? So you're finally using your flames."
Kaminari stood at a height above the stadium, perched on the massive ice formation, watching as the blaze consumed the lower half of the arena.
"It looks like that promise you made to never use his fire means nothing when you're staring death in the face."
He emphasized the word "promise" with a mocking tone, then steadied himself, grasping his right wrist with his left hand, focusing energy into his palm.
"Well, if you're going all-out, then I suppose it's only fair I do the same."
His golden eyes narrowed, a sharp and deadly intensity in his gaze.
"I wasn't joking earlier. If you don't bring everything you have, I will knock you out."
*Bzzzzzzzzzzzt! Chirp-Chirp-Chirp*
On top of the iceberg electricity began to gather, crackling and snapping in Kaminari's hands. The sound echoed like thunder mixed with the sharp chirping of birds.
Below, deep in the sea of fire, Todoroki stood on scorched earth. His condition was rough, to say the least. His sports jacket was completely burned away, leaving only his pants intact, almost as if by some strange twist of fate.
His upper body was covered in burns and cuts, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But even the blood evaporated almost instantly under the intense heat, leaving only a red smear as a reminder of his injuries.
"I… I almost died…"
Todoroki's eyes were wide, his heart racing as he recalled the terror he'd felt just moments ago. It was a fear he hadn't known before—a fear beyond anything he'd felt, even more agonizing than the memory of boiling water scalding him as a child. This time, it was real, visceral, a fear rooted in the prospect of death.
No matter how gifted he was, or how indifferent he tried to be, at his core, he was still a fifteen-year-old kid. And the reality of facing death shook him in a way he wasn't prepared for.
*Crackle, crackle.*
Just as he steadied himself, the familiar buzzing sound of electricity filled the air, drawing closer from above.
"That sound…"
***
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