"Hmm… already catching up, huh?"
Kaminari turned his head to see Bakugo flying through the air, propelled by the continuous explosions from his hands. That ability to fly really gives him an edge, Kaminari thought to himself, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Thunder idiot!!" Bakugo bellowed. "Get it through your head! I'm your biggest rival! First place is MINE!"
The explosions from Bakugo's palms added an extra burst of intensity to his words as he closed in on Kaminari.
Kaminari just chuckled to himself. If I had my coins, a shot from my railgun would've sent you flying right now!
He couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. Since the school had banned any equipment aside from clothing, he wasn't allowed to carry the metal coins he used for his ranged railgun attacks. It was frustrating—without those, he was left with fewer long-range options.
If I hadn't mastered "Godspeed" and "High Voltage Mode" just in time, I wouldn't even be confident competing against Todoroki and Bakugo in this Sports Festival.
Kaminari sighed, recognizing that he still had a lot of room to grow. His reliance on equipment only highlighted his need to strengthen his own abilities further.
---
Meanwhile, he approached the end of the second level, with Bakugo just about caught up to him, their fierce rivalry igniting once again.
"I'm number one!!!" Bakugo roared, pushing himself even harder.
Trailing close behind them was Todoroki, who kept his focus on maintaining his place in the top three. He'd decided that he didn't need to fight for first place in this round, as long as he secured a top position, that would be enough.
But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone screaming from behind.
"Midoriya?"
Todoroki glanced back, surprised by what he saw.
Midoriya was somehow racing along the steel beams with green energy crackling around his body, giving him a speed and agility that Todoroki hadn't expected to see.
What's going on? Todoroki thought, eyes widening slightly. He looks just like Kaminari… but with green lightning?
Midoriya caught his gaze and shouted, determination burning in his eyes, "Todoroki! I'm giving everything I've got in this race too!"
His words, broadcast live, reached the ears of everyone watching across Japan.
Unbeknownst to Kaminari, his earlier "One Hundred Thousand Volts" attack had pushed Midoriya to his limit, awakening a new understanding of his power. In his desperation, Midoriya had figured out how to channel "five percent" of his Quirk throughout his body, keeping it within a manageable range.
The famed "Midoriya miracle" was in full effect.
This kid… he really is something, Kaminari thought, glancing back briefly. That hero spirit… it's something else.
Todoroki, however, was no longer calm. The icy chill radiating from his right side intensified as he activated his Quirk again.
I can't let this green-haired kid overtake me! I can accept Kaminari and Bakugo ahead of me, but there's no way I'm losing to Midoriya!
With renewed determination, Todoroki summoned a massive wave of ice, creating a bridge that spanned across the remaining pillars in front of him. While this would make it easier for others to follow, he didn't care anymore. His pride was on the line.
---
Back in the lead, Kaminari and Bakugo had cleared the second level and were now on a stretch of flat ground, which immediately turned into a battlefield.
Bakugo, fired up and relentless, was attacking Kaminari every chance he got.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each blast left craters in the ground, sending clouds of dust into the air. Bakugo's crazed laughter echoed with each explosion, making him look more like a villain than a hero.
"Wahahaha! Get ready, Thunder Idiot!" Bakugo shouted, wild-eyed. "I'm blowing you out of my way! First place is MINE!"
With a fierce grin, he launched himself forward, aiming a powerful blast at Kaminari. But Kaminari wasn't about to just sit back and take it. He retaliated with his own lightning-charged punch.
Boom!!!
Their powers clashed, sending a shockwave that rippled across the course. Bakugo was pushed back, stumbling as he tried to regain his balance.
But Kaminari wasn't done. Golden lightning surged around him, and with a burst of speed, he activated "Godspeed" once more, charging forward in a dazzling blur.
"Get out of my way, Bakugo!" Kaminari yelled, lashing out with a lightning-imbued kick.
WHAM!
Bakugo was sent flying back, tumbling across the ground, sparks of electricity crackling around him.
"Bakugo!" Midoriya called out, shocked by the sight of his rival being knocked back so forcefully.
"Shut up, Deku!" Bakugo snarled, his expression twisted with rage. He was too focused on Kaminari to even register Midoriya's own transformation. "Thunder Idiot! I'm not done with you!"
With an explosive push from his palms, Bakugo propelled himself forward again, ignoring the pain in his arms from the sheer force he was using. Fueled by adrenaline and pure stubbornness, he hurtled forward, determined to catch up.
Now the second group was a high-stakes race between Todoroki, Midoriya, and Bakugo. The big screens showed their progress side by side, each of them giving their all in an intense battle for second place.
---
Kaminari, now with a comfortable lead, soon reached the third obstacle.
"The final stage for Kaminari Denki, the first in the lead… a massive minefield!!" Present Mic announced, his voice brimming with excitement.
"The staff really outdid themselves with this one! If you look carefully, you can actually see where the mines are buried," he explained. "Keep your eyes open and tread carefully!"
Hearing this over the stadium's loudspeakers, several of Kaminari's classmates back on the ice track like Tetsutetsu, Kyoka, Iida, and Momo couldn't help but gasp.
Has Kaminari already made it that far?
"Hmm… this is tricky. I'm not sure how fast these mines detonate…" Kaminari muttered to himself, looking out at the maze of hidden explosives in front of him.
The darker patches of ground clearly indicated where the mines were buried, but they were scattered randomly across the path, making navigation a challenge.
"Well, can't waste any more time. Let's go!"
With the sounds of explosions and cheers from the audience spurring him on, Kaminari activated the more flexible "High-speed Movement," and darted into the minefield. However, his speed wasn't as fast as usual because he still had to rely on his eyes, carefully watching his steps.
Not far behind, Bakugo, Todoroki, and Midoriya reached the minefield as well.
"Hah! Mines? Like I care!" Bakugo laughed wildly, his palms flaring as he launched himself over the ground with blasts from his hands, completely ignoring the mines below.
"Thunder Idiot! I'm coming for you!"
****
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