Whoosh!
Facing Kaminari's high-speed Electrified Fist, Midoriya didn't dare to block it head-on. Instead, he planted his right foot on the ground and quickly slid back a couple of meters, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Boom!
As Kaminari relentlessly closed the distance, Midoriya punched forward into the air. The force of his punch distorted the air, creating a powerful gust that barreled toward Kaminari.
Sizzle
But Kaminari's expression didn't waver. Casually, he sidestepped to the right, evading the gust with ease. A few strands of his blond hair fluttered up from the wind, but he was otherwise unfazed.
Having watched Midoriya in action many times before, Kaminari knew better than to rush in without a plan. Yet something about Midoriya's current attack felt… off.
It was weak. Surprisingly so.
Compared to the raw, intense power Midoriya usually displayed, this punch felt almost restrained, as if he was holding back.
Sizzle
Kaminari resumed his pursuit, while Midoriya seemed intent on keeping his distance, constantly evading close combat.
For three whole minutes, Kaminari chased Midoriya around the arena, occasionally striking out, only for Midoriya to narrowly evade or deflect his blows with controlled punches, each releasing a gust of wind in Kaminari's direction.
Crackle
"Unlike me, Kaminari's energy is real electricity," Midoriya thought, cautiously watching Kaminari while keeping a safe distance. "Touching him directly would be a huge mistake. All I need to do is wear him down. Eventually, his electricity will run out."
As Midoriya continued his evasive maneuvers, he planned his next move. "Or… I could find a chance to use a full-power punch and knock him out of bounds."
To the spectators, the scene was a spectacle. Two figures, one cloaked in golden lightning, the other in green energy, chased each other across the massive concrete arena, moving at speeds that few could even follow. From time to time, flashes of lightning and bursts of air pressure filled the space, creating an intense, mesmerizing show.
Even Present Mic, known for his constant commentary, found himself momentarily silent, caught up in the action alongside the rapt audience.
Meanwhile, Kaminari began to understand the nature of Midoriya's ability. The energy Midoriya was using was different from his own electrically charged movement. Kaminari's speed came from his control over electric currents stimulating his muscles, but Midoriya's speed… was purely physical.
"He's using raw power to create speed," Kaminari thought, observing Midoriya carefully as they both halted for a brief moment. "It's not that his Quirk has changed. He's still using that same explosive strength, but he's figured out how to spread that power throughout his entire body, not just his fists."
Kaminari evaluated their strengths and weaknesses. "In terms of pure speed, we're about evenly matched. But his punches pack a lot more force. Still, I have the edge in one way, my attacks carry an electric shock."
For a moment, the arena was still, as both fighters stared each other down.
"What's going on? Why'd they stop?" Present Mic's voice echoed, breaking the tense silence.
Ignoring the commentator, Kaminari flashed a confident smile at Midoriya, one that the cameras caught perfectly.
"Is this all you've got?" Kaminari asked, a hint of challenge in his tone.
Midoriya's eyes widened, a hint of confusion breaking through his concentration.
"Here's a heads-up," Kaminari continued, his smile fading into a serious expression. "You'd better bring out that 'smash' of yours, because I'm done holding back. When I go all out, it gets… intense."
Suddenly, the electricity surrounding Kaminari's body surged, crackling louder as his hair lifted, charged by the energy radiating from him.
Boom!
"High-voltage mode… activated!" Kaminari announced, his voice tinged with determination.
With a surge of power, Kaminari was enveloped in a blazing aura of golden electricity, arcs of lightning dancing dangerously around him. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving only a charred spot where he had been standing.
In an instant, Kaminari reappeared as a golden streak, rocketing towards Midoriya like a bolt of lightning. His speed was so extreme that even the arena cameras struggled to keep up.
"He's… so fast!" Midoriya thought, instantly recognizing that Kaminari was far quicker than he could react to.
SMASHHHH!
Desperate, Midoriya unleashed a full-powered punch, even though he knew it would likely injure him. He swung at the empty space in front of him, detonating his Quirk to create a shockwave that distorted the air in front of him.
"Now's my chance!" Kaminari thought, eyes lighting up as he closed in on the explosive shockwave.
In the stands, All Might was already halfway out of his seat, his eyes wide with concern. He knew that one miscalculated punch from Midoriya could do serious damage, perhaps even put Kaminari in the hospital.
On the teacher's platform, Aizawa squinted, considering whether he should activate his Erasure Quirk to prevent an accident. But before he could decide, Kaminari had already reached Midoriya.
Nearby, Bakugo and Todoroki watched the scene intently, their expressions serious.
BOOM!
Midoriya's punch created a massive shockwave, sending turbulent waves of air rushing toward the audience. The force was intense enough to cause spectators in the stands to shield their faces from the blast.
But before anyone could panic, thick concrete walls rose up from the ground, shielding the audience from the wind.
"Phew… just in time," Cementoss muttered, his hands pressed firmly against the ground as he controlled the walls.
However, the power of Midoriya's blast was even greater than he anticipated. The first three walls cracked and crumbled in seconds, and it wasn't until the fifth wall that the shockwave was finally contained.
Many in the audience sat back, breathing sighs of relief. For a moment, they'd felt the full brunt of Midoriya's raw strength, and it was terrifying.
As the dust settled, all eyes returned to the arena, eager to see the outcome of the clash.
When the dust cleared, the sight left everyone stunned, Midoriya stood frozen, his arm extended from his powerful punch… but just inches away, Kaminari's fist hovered, stopping short of a strike that could have hit Midoriya.
Midoriya's arm trembled, his face a mix of shock and awe as he stared at Kaminari.
"How…" he murmured.
Kaminari's voice, calm and steady, echoed across the arena.
"You lost, Midoriya."
***
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