Thirty minutes sounds short, but if you vert it to 1,800,000 milliseds, it starts to feel even shorter. Well, iy, it's barely enough time to grab a quick drink or use the restroom. During the break, Kaminari didn't really chat with Kyoka, Momo, or the others. His mood had soured after the enter with Endeavor, and he was still processing the iion.

  The more he thought about it, the more he grudgingly aowledged that Endeavor's words had a point. In a world where superpowers were tied to physical attributes, there might not be a clear "hierarchy" like in fantasy novels, but everyone khat some Quirks started out strohan others. A child born with a fme that could ie buildings was, in pure potential, a step ahead of someoh a weaker fire-based Quirk.

  It was a reality that stung. No matter how much he trained, he couldn't ighe advahat Todoroki's heritage gave him. And Endeavor's words only served to highlight that difference.

  But knowing this didn't make it any less infuriating. Kaminari wasn't oo back down just because of someone else's "noble lineage." If anything, it pushed him to fight harder.

  "Kaminari?"

  He was jolted out of his thoughts by Kyoka nudging him. "The match is starting," she said, pointing down at the arena.

  He looked over the railing just in time to see Tetsutetsu and Bakugo fag each other. Tetsutetsu stood with a calm expression, though there was a flicker of tension in his eyes.

  Kaminari narrowed his eyes. Fag Bakugo's relentless aggressioetsu's judo skills wouldn't be much help here. So, what's your petsu?

  As Present Mic's voied, the match began.

  "Start!"

  With the shout of "Start!", Bakugo immediately sprang forward, ung himself toward Tetsutetsu like a beast unleashed, his palms crag with explosive force.

  Tetsutetsu didn't say a word in response. He hardened his body, his skin turning to steel, a Bakugo's charge head-on. All of his focus was trained on his oppo.

  What followed was an intense exge in the middle of the arena. Tetsutetsu, pletely abandoning the judo he'd trained in, relied solely on his strength. He swung his iron-cd legs with brutal force, each kick backed by raw power. Bakugo, meanwhile, used smaller explosions to deflect or dodge Tetsutetsu's strikes, but he was clearly struggling against Tetsutetsu's iron defenses.

  "Boom!"

  "Boom!"

  Each csh sent shockwaves through the stadium. Tetsutetsu's kicks were powerful enough to make Bakugo backpedal, each impact ringing out as metal met force.

  Bakugo's usual explosions aren't enough to get through Tetsutetsu's iron defense, Kaminari realized, watg the battle unfold. In terms of sheer physical power, Tetsutetsu's leg strength is formidable.

  Bakugo was starting to realize this as well. Every time he tried to get close, Tetsutetsu would swing his legs with enough power to force him back. Bakugo's explosions were leaving superficial damage at best, but they weren't stopping his oppo.

  "Looks like I'll need something bigger if I want t him down!" Bakugo thought, his mind already w out his move.

  Without warning, Bakugo fired an explosion behind himself, ung into the air above Tetsutetsu.

  Tetsutetsu's eyes widened in shock as he looked up.

  "Die, you iron bastard!" Bakugo shouted, his expression twisted with iy. He raised both hands, palms fag down toward Tetsutetsu.

  The audience collectively held their breath as Bakught his hands together, readying his signature move.

  "Fshbang!"

  In a blinding fsh of light, Bakugo's bined explosions created a fre that momentarily turhe entire arena white. Tetsutetsu's vision was overwhelmed, and he instinctively staggered, momentarily blinded.

  "Perfect," Bakugo muttered, dropping down toward his oppo with a cruel grin. "Now take this—"

  Bakugo's palms, now inches from Tetsutetsu, sparked with an intense charge, prepared for a devastating explosion.

  "Kaminari!!!" Kyoka excimed, notig Kaminari's stri expression as he realized what was about to happen.

  "That move…" Kaminari stood abruptly, dread creeping up his spine. "If that ects…"

  From his spot against the wall, Todoroki's eyes narrowed as well. "If Bakugo nds that, Tetsutetsu could be seriously hurt," he muttered, fshing across his face.

  Present Mic's voice anicked. "Bakugo, don't—! Stop him!"

  But before the teachers could react, Bakugo's Howitzer Impact had already fired.

  "HOWITZER IMPACT!"

  A thunderous explosion engulfed the area, sending a massive shockwave throughout the stadium. Debris and smoke filled the air, obsg everything from view.

  Kaminari watched with ched fists, his mind rag. With the Fshbang, Tetsutetsu wouldn't have been able to see or rea time… Did he get caught in that bst?

  The crowd was silent, holding their breath as the smoke began to clear, slowly revealing the aftermath of Bakugo's attack.

  But as the st remnants of smoke faded, what they saw left everyone in stunned disbelief.

  There, standing amidst the rubble, was Tetsutetsu—pletely unharmed. Somehow, he'd mao avoid the brunt of the attack, standing in a different spot from where he had been just moments before. Bakugo, meanwhile, was on the ground, panting heavily, his arms trembling from the effort.

  "H-How?" Bakugo muttered, staring at Tetsutetsu in shock.

  The teachers, too, were dumbfounded. toss, Midnight, and Vd King stood frozen, uo prehend what they were seeing.

  "How did he dodge that?" Present Mic yelled, disbelief clear in his voice.

  Even Aizawa was taken aback, squinting down at Tetsutetsu. "What… happened?"

  Kaminari, however, had an idea. A bold, impossible thought crossed his mind, but he couldn't shake it. "Could he have…?"

  ***

  Bonus Chapter

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