"This range... about ten meters while using 'high-speed movement'? If I go all out, it should extend to fifteen meters," Kaminari muttered, observing the aftermath of his latest "mouth cannon" attack, his body still crackling with golden electricity.
"And if I activate the second stage of 'high-voltage mode'... what then?"
As a cool breeze swept through the clearing, rustling the branches of the surrounding trees, the golden glow of Kaminari's previous attack began to fade. However, the air was still thick with the sharp, acrid smell of scorched earth.
"You! Why didn't you dodge?!" Kaminari called out to Tetsutetsu, who stood in the middle of the blackened ground. Confusion was evident on Kaminari's face. "Don't tell me you couldn't react in time with 'Shave'!"
To be honest, while the "mouth cannon" had decent speed, it was far from the lightning-fast velocity of his electromagnetic gun. He didn't think for a second that it was too fast for Tetsutetsu to dodge.
"Heh, of course not!" Tetsutetsu replied with a grin. His iron-hardened body glinted faintly under the sunlight as he inspected the residual heat clinging to his skin. "I didn't feel much danger from it, so I thought I'd let it hit me to see how strong your new move is."
Kaminari rubbed the back of his head, laughing bitterly. "So… what did you think?"
Inwardly, he noted the obvious—his current output of 100,000 volts wasn't enough to affect someone as durable as Tetsutetsu. After all, this was just a range test, not a full-powered attack. If he wanted, Kaminari could unleash all the energy in his body in one burst, potentially exceeding millions of volts. That level of power could likely incinerate even Tetsutetsu's iron skin.
"Hmm... let me think," Tetsutetsu said, scratching his stiff, white hair as he remained in his ironized form.
"First impression? It's definitely flashy. Almost on par with one of Bakugo's 'flash bangs.' It completely overwhelmed my vision for a moment."
He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Then there's the sound. When the attack hit, it wasn't just my vision, it felt like my hearing was drowned out by the crackling of the electricity."
"After that comes the heat and the force of the airwaves. And yeah, I guess if it were anyone else, they'd probably also feel numb from the shock. But honestly, the speed isn't that impressive."
As Tetsutetsu spoke, Kaminari nodded, his grin widening.
"That's fine," Kaminari said, clearly pleased. "This move is meant to be a long-range, area-control technique. Speed isn't its main focus."
"Alright, let's go again!" Tetsutetsu said, inhaling deeply and adjusting his stance. "This time, I'll use 'Shave' to dodge. Let's see if you can hit me!"
Kaminari's expression turned serious as he prepared to launch another attack. Training was training, and there was no room for sloppiness here.
"Here it comes!" Kaminari warned.
"Bzzzzzzz—"
Golden electricity crackled around him as Kaminari took a deep breath and unleashed another surge of golden energy from his mouth, aimed directly at Tetsutetsu.
The scorched earth under Tetsutetsu's feet glowed red as it was struck by the high-temperature current, becoming even more charred than before.
"Boom!"
Another bright golden dome of energy, like an inverted bowl, enveloped Tetsutetsu's position. But this time, before it could explode, Tetsutetsu reappeared four meters to the right, his "Shave" technique allowing him to narrowly avoid the impact.
"Crack!"
The golden dome detonated in a brilliant flash, sending waves of electricity and light rippling outward. The entire sequence lasted no more than two seconds.
Kaminari wasted no time. He leapt into the air, golden electricity spiraling around him, and launched another "mouth cannon" from above, aiming to catch Tetsutetsu as he landed.
"BOOOOOOOOOH!"
As Tetsutetsu moved again, Kaminari immediately targeted his new position with a third attack. He was curious to see if Tetsutetsu could maintain his rapid dodging without leaving any gaps.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two more explosions rocked the clearing, golden energy flooding nearly a third of the space.
Kaminari analyzed the situation as he prepared his next move.
"The coverage of a 100,000-volt 'mouth cannon' is about four meters in diameter... but if I push it to 200,000 volts, the range doubles to eight meters," he calculated.
Taking another deep breath, Kaminari prepared to unleash the full 200,000-volt version of his attack. However, before he could act, Tetsutetsu's voice called out, breaking the rhythm.
"Wait! Hold on a second!"
Steam rose from Tetsutetsu's iron-coated body as he waved his hand, a helpless look on his face. He smiled wryly at Kaminari.
"I don't think I can keep using 'Shave' back-to-back like this," Tetsutetsu admitted. "My right leg feels like it's about to give out. I probably need at least ten seconds to recover."
Kaminari looked down at Tetsutetsu's trembling leg, noticing its slight but visible shaking.
"In that case," Kaminari said thoughtfully, "if you can't control the direction and timing of your movement properly, 'Shave' really isn't practical for extended combat. It's too risky, you might only get one chance to use it."
Tetsutetsu nodded solemnly, clearly aware of the move's limitations. Still, he managed to squeeze out a smile.
"I think it's just a matter of practice," he said optimistically. "With enough training, I should be able to improve the timing and control. As for the recovery time... well, that's probably just because my legs aren't strong enough yet."
"Fair enough," Kaminari agreed, nodding. "Let's adjust. I'll attack every ten seconds, and I'll double the power of the 'mouth cannon' each time. You'd better brace yourself."
Tetsutetsu gulped, but he nodded with determination. Kaminari, meanwhile, took another deep breath and unleashed his 200,000-volt attack.
"BOOOOOOOOOH!"
This time, he added a new twist. While the "mouth cannon" surged forward, Kaminari consciously manipulated the current within his two-meter control range. The golden energy spun rapidly, forming a high-speed rotating sphere as it traveled forward.
This adjustment delayed the attack by a second but significantly increased its forward momentum. The centrifugal force not only made the attack faster, but it also increased its destructive power.
Sure enough, when the attack reached its maximum range, the resulting golden dome wasn't just a static explosion. The surface of the dome shimmered with visible currents flowing across it, adding an extra layer of intensity.
"Crack!!!"
The explosion that followed was far stronger than the previous ones. The resulting airwave blasted Tetsutetsu backward and shaved off more than ten centimeters of the scorched earth, leaving the ground glowing red-hot.
"An airwave effect, huh?" Kaminari noted with satisfaction. He had borrowed the concept of centrifugal force from fireball techniques in "Naruto," and the results spoke for themselves.
While the airwave might not seem significant, it could unbalance an opponent during combat, a momentary loss of footing could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
This thought only strengthened Kaminari's belief that the fantastical worlds he once watched in anime might actually exist. How else could techniques like "Shave" and "Raikiri" hold up under real-world physics?
"Man... Kaminari, you're seriously a genius at developing moves!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed, staring in awe at the destruction left behind. The ground looked like molten lava had passed through it.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Tetsutetsu grinned. "So, have you come up with a name for it yet? If not, want me to help? How about the 'Thunder Cannon'?"
Kaminari chuckled but shook his head. His gaze drifted upward, where the bright blue sky stretched endlessly above.
"Let's call it... the Lightning Dragon's Roar"
***
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