Akira observed Ishimura's theatrics with a steady gaze, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the chaos around him. Bakugo, still seething from the earlier exchanges, glared at both Akira and their opponent.
"You bastard! I told you, he isn't me! I'm Bakugo Katsuki!" Bakugo shouted, his voice brimming with frustration.
Ishimura paused momentarily, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. "Kitagawa Akira?" he muttered under his breath, the name sparking a vague familiarity. However, his smirk soon returned. "It doesn't matter. You're both going to fall today."
Bakugo clenched his fists tightly, sparks flying from his palms. Without another word, he charged at Ishimura, explosions echoing with each swing of his hands. The air filled with heat and smoke as Bakugo unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, but Ishimura dodged each one with uncanny agility.
"Still so stubborn, aren't you?" Ishimura taunted, sidestepping another blast.
Bakugo's frustration reached its peak. "I'll make you eat those words!" he roared, lunging forward.
Ishimura somersaulted backward, putting distance between them. With a menacing grin, he raised his hands, conjuring a large mass of translucent liquid. The substance glistened ominously under the light as it transformed into a massive spear.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Ishimura sneered, aiming the spear at Bakugo. "But persistence without strength is meaningless."
Bakugo prepared to retaliate, sparks intensifying in his palms. However, before he could act, Akira stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Stop," Akira said calmly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bakugo growled, shrugging off Akira's hand.
"Your hands are bleeding, and you're exhausting yourself. Let me handle this."
Bakugo hesitated, torn between his pride and the reality of the situation. He finally stepped back, muttering under his breath, "Don't screw this up."
Akira turned to face Ishimura, his expression unreadable. The ground beneath him began to shift, grains of sand rising in response to his command.
"Impressive. So, you've learned some new tricks," Ishimura mocked, though his grin faltered slightly.
Akira raised his hand, and the sand surged upward, forming two massive hands that reached toward the descending spear. The crowd watched in stunned silence as the sand hands caught the spear mid-air, stopping it mere meters from the ground.
"What... How is this possible?" Ishimura exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Akira's voice was calm but firm. "You rely too much on brute force, Ishimura. Power without control is useless."
With a subtle motion, Akira closed his fist. The sand hands crushed the spear into harmless droplets, which fell to the ground like rain. Ishimura's eyes widened, and his confidence wavered.
"You think this is over?" Ishimura snarled, his bravado slipping. "I've got more tricks up my sleeve!"
Akira took a step forward, the sand swirling protectively around him. "Then show me," he said, his tone unyielding.
The battle wasn't over, but for the first time, it was clear who held the upper hand. Akira's composure and mastery over his abilities left no room for doubt—this was a fight he intended to finish.