Not only the students but All Might and several other teachers on the hero side of the faculty bench stood up instinctively, their faces showing shock.
In the back of the auditorium, Endeavor leaned against the wall, watching the fight with a focused intensity. His cold blue eyes narrowed as he took in the scene.
The source of their astonishment was the "electric field" rapidly spinning clockwise around Kaminari's team at high speed.
No, that's not quite right.
This was no longer just a "field" or even a "lightning chain." It looked more like… an inverted, golden, dome-shaped current shield touching the ground.
"A defensive barrier made of lightning?" Midnight murmured from her spot on the sidelines, as bewildered as anyone else.
"Just as I thought..."
On the battlefield, Kaminari sat atop Tetsutetsu, his golden eyes half-closed as he focused intently on the steel balls spinning faster and faster under his control.
The previous times he'd used this "Lightning Chain" technique, it had been rushed. He hadn't had a chance to really feel the changes in his control. But this time was different.
Having attempted it twice already, he now had a better sense of what he was doing. With practice, the technique was becoming smoother. Practice really does make perfect.
This time, while maintaining the "Lightning Chain," he'd felt a strange sensation, as if he could influence the steel balls with both his current and his mind. Following that instinct, he had tentatively tested it... and the steel ball he focused on had actually moved!
If he could control one, could he control all of them?
Before long, all of the steel balls moved in sync, causing Momo and the others to watch in concern. They knew that if something went wrong with Kaminari's move, they'd all be in serious trouble.
But the situation was unfolding beyond anyone's expectations.
Once Kaminari realized he could control the steel balls and grew more confident in his abilities, his mind began racing with possibilities.
"If I can manipulate steel balls with my electric field, could I make a steel plate and fly on it?"
The thought flashed through his mind, a memory from the first obstacle course still fresh—he'd struggled with not being able to fly back then, and it had clearly stuck with him. Naturally, the idea of soaring through the air was appealing.
He even had a mental image of an imposing, helmeted man with white hair, standing proudly, appearing before him.
"If I keep improving this skill, maybe I could do something like Magneto."
The image faded, replaced by a young girl with short brown hair and a confident look.
"Or perhaps, I could study moves like the "Iron Sand" techniques that Electric Princess uses..."
But those were goals for another day. Right now, his priority was defense, especially since the rules prevented him from taking the initiative to attack.
Just then, another figure surfaced in his mind, a stoic boy with dark hair and piercing white eyes, as an idea sparked.
Rotation Defense... Just like Hakkeshou Kaiten!
His vision was clear: to use a hundred steel balls, spinning in a circular motion around him like a top, creating a powerful centrifugal force to deflect any incoming attacks.
Compared to his previous "Lightning Chain," this technique offered several distinct advantages.
First, it consumed far less energy. This move relied mostly on centrifugal force for defense, so he didn't need to increase his electric output, just keep a low-level current going.
Second, it provided much better coverage. The "Lightning Chain" created a mesh of linear currents that inevitably left some gaps. But now, by forming a continuous barrier, he'd eliminated those weaknesses.
Finally, this new move boasted far stronger defensive power. The "Lightning Chain" had always been more offensive in nature. Although he could use it for defense, it was nowhere near as specialized as this full-on defensive shield.
"Yeah... this is my absolute defense," Kaminari declared confidently to everyone around him.
"Thunder Aegis!"
"Boom!"
Behind him, the ice wall shielding Todoroki's team suddenly shattered. Bakugo, Kirishima, and the others surged through the gap and froze, eyes widening as they caught sight of the "golden light" source.
"What the hell is that?!" Bakugo exclaimed in surprise.
No one answered him, though. Todoroki and the others were too focused on the shimmering, inverted golden dome standing between them and Kaminari's team.
"Absolute defense?" Todoroki murmured, his gaze sharpening as he sneered slightly. "You're as full of yourself as ever, Kaminari."
Without another word, he leaped up onto a nearby icicle and activated his ice Quirk, creating a cascade of icicles that rained down like an avalanche.
If he hadn't been worried about potentially hurting Kaminari and his teammates, he might have gone as far as to summon his largest ice wall and crush them outright.
"Boom!!!"
The collision of dozens of icicles against the radiant "Thunder Aegis" filled the stadium with explosive energy, capturing the attention of all 120,000 spectators, and even the groups outside the ice wall couldn't help but look their way.
It was clear that the intensity of the clash between Kaminari and Todoroki was on another level entirely.
"Hey! Isn't this a bit much for just a game?!" Present Mic shouted into his microphone, his voice filled with shock.
All the stadium screens zoomed in on Kaminari's location, though the cameras struggled to capture a clear image through the thick fog of ice and steam.
"Dear, look!"
Kaminari's mother clutched his father's arm tightly, her face filled with worry. "Is our son going to be alright?"
Kaminari's father remained silent, his heart racing with anxiety. Even though Kaminari had declared that he had an "absolute defense," Todoroki's attacks looked overwhelming.
"He'll be fine, I'm sure of it," he finally said, trying to reassure her. "We have to trust him."
As the steam gradually dispersed under the bright sunlight, a familiar golden glow emerged from within, shining even more brilliantly than before.
Relief washed over Kaminari's parents, their worry replaced by pride and joy as they saw their son's defenses holding strong.
"How… how is that possible?"
Todoroki, still standing atop the icicle, could no longer maintain his stoic expression. He stared in disbelief at the golden dome, which continued to spin calmly among the remnants of his shattered ice.
Even though he hadn't used his full "ice wall" move, he'd still put all his strength into the attack. Yet, Kaminari's "absolute defense" had blocked it with ease.
"Incredible…"
Aizawa, pressed up against the glass of the observation deck, murmured in amazement. He watched Kaminari's "Thunder Aegis" with an intensity that made him look almost like a mummy lost in awe.
"To turn something as wild and volatile as lightning into something so controlled and disciplined…"
"His creativity is remarkable, but the precision in his control of electromagnetic forces is equally impressive."
As a Pro Hero who values technique and skill, Aizawa was more sensitive to such subtleties than most.
"Three minutes left!" Midnight called, her voice echoing through the arena.
***
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