BOOM!
"Bakugo! Report your situation—what's happening on your end?!"Iida Tenya's anxious voice came through the communicator.
Another explosion narrowly missed him as Midoriya Izuku stopped retreating. Bakugo Katsuki, seeing Midoriya halt, finally seemed to calm down—turning his back on him instead.
"Shut up," Bakugo snapped. "Just stay where you are."
Irritated by the nonstop chatter, Bakugo tore the earpiece off and hurled it aside.
"Now die, you useless idiot!!!"
Both palms blasted backward at once. Using the explosive recoil, Bakugo shot forward at terrifying speed, swinging a whip-like kick straight at Midoriya.
Midoriya knew very clearly—without relying on his Quirk, he couldn't match Bakugo head-on. Blocking was suicide.
He dropped into a low squat, narrowly dodging the kick. Before Bakugo's foot could land and stabilize his balance, Midoriya lunged forward, grabbed Bakugo's belt, and—using Bakugo's own momentum—
Slam!
Bakugo was thrown hard to the ground once again.
He saw through it again?!
Alongside rage, genuine shock surged through Bakugo's mind.Was this really the same weak nobody he had bullied since childhood?
Seeing Midoriya pull out the capture tape, Bakugo reacted instantly—springing up in one smooth motion. His right arm swung violently, another explosion roaring toward Midoriya.
"That's insane… He's actually holding his own against Bakugo without activating his Quirk?"The observation room erupted into discussion. Midoriya's performance shattered their expectations.
"Midoriya's situational judgment is already outstanding," All Might murmured proudly."More than ten years of notes… All that Hero knowledge engraved into his mind is finally bearing fruit."
"Hey! Midoriya! Use your Quirk!!!"Bakugo roared as explosions continued to rain down.
"What's wrong?! Afraid?! Give it to me already!!! I'm still stronger than you!!!"
As Bakugo grew more aggressive, he gradually adapted to Midoriya's dodging rhythm, pressing harder and harder.
I can't keep evading forever.Midoriya realized it clearly. If this continued, defeat was inevitable.
"Tch… enough stored," Bakugo muttered, touching the grenade-shaped gauntlet on his arm.
"Hey, Deku. You already know my Quirk—your creepy stalker research and all."
"Huh?" Bakugo's sudden calm made Midoriya tense.
"I sweat nitroglycerin-like liquid from my palms," Bakugo said coldly, explaining like a villain before a finishing blow."If my support gear is built the way I wanted…"
He flipped a switch on his gauntlet, a feral grin spreading across his face.
"…then it should already be packed full."
"Damn it!" All Might grabbed his chest in the monitoring room."Stop him! Bakugo boy, stop—!"
But Bakugo had already thrown away his communicator.
He aimed the gauntlet directly at Midoriya.
That opening…Midoriya's heart sank.
If it's what I think it is—this attack cannot land.But at this distance… there's only one chance.
Sweat soaked his palms as he clenched his fist.
"LAUNCH!!!""SMASH!!!"
Two roars echoed simultaneously.
BOOOOOM!
The collision produced a violent shockwave. The raging air current hurled Midoriya into the wall with crushing force.
But Bakugo's attack had been aimed at Midoriya's side—while Midoriya's punch was aimed straight at Bakugo's head.
The overwhelming power of [One For All] created a massive pressure wave, intercepting the blast before it could detonate properly. The explosion from Bakugo's gauntlet was swallowed by the hurricane-like impact and hurled upward, detonating above them.
"Tsuyu-chan!!!"
Midoriya's arm was destroyed by recoil. His body slammed into the wall, completely drained of strength. Sliding down slowly, he shouted his partner's name before collapsing.
"Received. Gero."
Asui Tsuyu—who had been hidden outside the nuclear weapon room the entire time—felt the tremor beneath her feet. The moment Midoriya's voice came through the headset, she sprang into action.
"The Heroes are here! Stop her!"Iida Tenya rushed forward the instant he saw her. The room had been carefully chosen—wide open, minimal cover—perfect for his speed-based Quirk.
But before he could reach her—
CRASH!
The floor beneath him shattered. A massive shockwave punched upward through the building, ripping through floors in succession.
"Sorry, Iida-chan!"Using the chaos, Asui clung to the wall like a real frog, sprinting effortlessly toward the nuclear weapon.
Iida tried to pursue—but falling debris and collapsing ground made full-speed movement impossible.
"…Damn it," he muttered bitterly.
Pop!
Asui kicked off the wall with explosive force and wrapped her arms tightly around the nuclear device.
"Mission complete! Gero~"
"Hero Team wins!!!"
Lying on the floor, barely conscious, Midoriya heard All Might's announcement through the headset.
The plan worked… I won.
Every inch of his body screamed in pain—but his lips curled into a smile.
"What are you talking about?!"Bakugo staggered forward, glaring down at him."Which part of this looks like you won?! You can't even stand!"
"Yes… I did," Midoriya replied weakly—but firmly.
Facing Bakugo's furious stare, his eyes burned with certainty.
"I won."