Chapter 19: Sport Battles FINALE
"Repairs are complete. Running final diagnosis… Checking… Checking…All systems are working within expected parameters." The Omnitrix notified Izuku just in time for the next brackets to be announced.
"WHAT A SECOND SET! WE HAD SOME REALLY THRILLING FIGHTS AND…less thrilling incidents…BUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE SEMI-FINALS!" The crowd cheered as the names appeared on the screen.
Round 1.
Hitoshi Shinso VS Shoto Todoroki
Round 2.
Katsuki Bakugou VS Izuku Midoriya
"WHOA! THOSE ARE SOME CRAZY MATCH-UPS! THE FIRST ROUND OF THE SEMI-FINALS WILL START IN TEN MINUTES! THE CONTESTANTS, HITOSHI SHINSO AND SHOTO TODOROKI, ARE REQUESTED TO PREPARE! AND REMEMBER! GO PLUS ULTRA!"
"And so it begins," Izuku said, resting in the lockers for the start of the semi-finals. However, someone knocked on his door.
"Midoriya? Are you in?"
"Tokoyami!" Izuku said, recognizing the voice. "Yes, please enter." Tokoyami entered the lockers, but he was not alone. Kamakiri was with him, alongside Itsuka from 1B. "Oh! Why is Itsuka Kendo here?"
"I am here on behalf of my class to thank you," Itsuka said. "For defeating Michizune."
"That guy jumped me during the first event," Kamakiri explained. "I barely had time to turn around before he was on my back, draining me of my energy."
"Likewise, I'm afraid he got the jump on me when I was returning with my ball. He must have stolen my ball as well once he was done draining me." Tokoyami explained. "But I fear the after-effects of his Quirk are still felt." This had Izuku perk up, worried. "As it stands, Dark Shadow is not responding."
"And I can barely make any blades," Kamakiri added.
"Your quirks are weakened?" Izuku asked, surprised by this additional development.
"It seems so," Tokoyami confirmed.
"Shishida is still asleep," Itsuka added. "Same with Mina Ashido from 1A."
"If it took you guys this long to wake up and recover, it stands to reason it might take Mina a bit longer, and Shishida even longer," Izuku said, doing the math. "But is there anything specific you guys wanted to speak with me about? Apart from thanking me for defeating Michizune and all."
"Yes," Tokoyami said. "I do."
"What is it?" Izuku asked, confused.
"When I was passing out after the attack, I heard Michizune speak to himself," Tokoyami added. "I know he already declared his intention to essentially bring back Aldera High, but I heard something that indicates he wasn't making his timeline clear. Midoriya, I fear Michizune might have started already."
"Impossible!" Izuku gasped, staring at him. "Everyone else who was loyal to Aldera's ideology has been arrested! Michizune was the only one who managed to worm their way out of that!"
"I am not saying there are a lot, but I heard him mumble another name," Tokoyami added. "Tell me, does the name Kazara mean anything to you?"
"K—" Izuku stopped himself.
"It does," Tokoyami said, with the 1B students exchanging concerned looks.
"Is this Kazara as dangerous as Michizune?" Kamakiri asked.
"No," Izuku replied. "No, she isn't. However, unlike Michizune, she doesn't need someone else to power up her Quirk."
"Which is?" Itsuka asked, curious.
"It's called Marker. She can mark individuals, which she can then track within a certain radius." Izuku explained. "But last I recall, her range was limited to Aldera's grounds. She usually used her Quirk to track those who ran…"
"Disgusting," Tokoyami said, voicing his opinion. "Aldera was drowning in darkness so deep, it was no longer black."
"But she never worked alone," Izuku added. "Her Quirk was a support type. Usually, those were bullied, but Kazara Uchimara got a blank check because she helped bullies keep track of their targets. She was also the girlfriend of the ringleader among students, now that I think about it."
"Ring leader?" Itsuka echoed. "Wait, there was a student who essentially called the shots?"
"Among the students? Yes. Honestly, Bakugou could have had that position, but he didn't want it. Now that I am comparing their Quirks, he could have totally challenged him for it," Izuku said, recalling things. "His name was Watari Sanzaki. His Quirk was, comparatively, almost as dangerous as Bakugou's."
"Considering that that guy pops explosions, that is a high bar," Kamakiri said. "What was his Quirk even?"
"It was a transformation type. He could transform his body parts into actual weapons. Knives, swords, clubs, firearms—"
"Excuse me, but firearms?! " Itsuka interrupted.
"And he could generate ammo as well," Izuku added. "This is why I dare to compare his Quirk to Bakugou's in terms of danger. Bakugou wins in terms of sheer firepower, but Watari wins by versatility alone. However, he was definitely arrested."
"Confirmation: Currently, Watari Sanzaki is serving a 15-year sentence, with the possibility for parole after 7." The Omnitrix informed him. "He is serving his sentence at a maximum security facility in Kyoto. Additionally, information from public records indicates that Kazara Uchimara is serving a lighter sentence at a minimum security facility here in Musutafu. She was sentenced to five years—UPDATING INFORMATION."
Izuku didn't like that.
"Most recent updates indicate that she appealed her sentence, claiming to have been made an unwilling participant. As such, her sentence was altered from 5 years of imprisonment to 18 months of parole."
She was free… Kazara was free.
"She was released approximately 3 weeks ago."
"Midoriya?" Tokoyami called out to him. "Are you alright? You spaced out."
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. I just remembered something I saw online but didn't pay much attention to." He started to lie. "Watari is definitely serving a harsh sentence, but I remember that Kazara was recently released."
"WHAT?!" Itsuka gasped. "How could she be released?!"
"She appealed and managed to convince the courts she was an unwilling participant. She got 18 months' probation instead of the initial 5 years of prison time." Izuku replied. "I don't know why I didn't think much more about that, but if Michizune mentioned her, then perhaps they met beforehand?"
"I only recall hearing the name, not anything else," Tokoyami said. "But do you think they started? The Revival of Aldera?"
"No!" Izuku said strongly. "The sheer possibility of that is outrageous! Every single person there has had their public record stained. Only the victims have been left without any spots."
"Still, I doubt the heroes will let that place come back," Kamakiri said, pointing out the obvious. "If you guys ask me, I don't think we ought to worry so much. If they are plotting something, we ought to let the pros handle it. They sunk them once, right? Let them sink them again!"
"Kamakiri has a point," Tokoyami admitted. "After all, what can we do?"
"That is true," Itsuka said, agreeing with them.
"Still…I will remain vigilant." Izuku said with a stern expression. "No matter what, I feel like anything related to Aldera is my responsibility. If they start causing trouble, I won't hesitate. I will do what I need to do to prevent them from doing anything regrettable. Michizune proved today just how unhinged they can get. I am not taking any chances."
"But why you?" Kamakiri asked, confused.
"I was there, remember? If there is someone who knows their Quirks and can pinpoint their weak points, that is me," Izuku declared, pointing at himself. "They were loud. Boisterous. Their quirks were being abused daily, and I saw them each time. I used to analyze Quirks as a hobby, but I guess I forgot about it after I got my own Quirk and started to train with it more. It might be time to start doing it again."
"I see," Kamakiri said. "Honestly? Respect. You are taking action and showing them what it is like when no one is there to protect them. You will hold them accountable. That kind of attitude I can respect!"
"We should probably go watch the next fight," Itsuka said, pointing out the time.
"Let's." Izuku agreed, and the small group made their way to the spectator area, unaware of the fiery pair of eyes watching closely.
"Alright!" Midnight shouted into the microphone, catching the cheering crowd's attention. "The semi-finals are here! And let us start it off with the first round! To my left, we have 1A's brainwasher! Hitoshi Shinso!" Midnight presented Shinso to the crowd, the boy receiving a mix of cheering and jeering from the crowd. "And to my right, we have 1A's dual-Quirk user! Shoto Todoroki!"
The crowd cheered for Shoto, but both contestants remained stoic in their expressions.
"Now, before we begin, I have to ask… Does any one of you want to surrender right now?" Midnight asked. "We already had a few people calling it quits, so—"
"I do," Shinso said.
"Oh, come on!" Midnight said, frustrated, but the crowd actually cheered. "Can you at least explain the reason why you are throwing in the towel?"
"Simple. I am not ready to take on someone like Todoroki. Plus, he is aware of my Quirk. The first round was fortunate, as I was pinned against someone who didn't know about it. The second round? Fortunate again. My would-be opponent quit for unknown reasons. The only reason I got this far is luck, plain and simple. All Todoroki has to do to defeat me is blast me with ice, and that is that. There is nothing I can do about that." Shinso explained, shrugging his shoulders at the end.
"You are not even going to try?" Midnight asked again.
"Why should I? Heroes often don't rush in due to believing their Quirk is unfit for the situation. If they have the luxury of choosing their battles, then so do we." Shinso said, which was not taken well by the heroes in the crowd. Well, part of them, that is, as they directly felt called out. But some nodded, agreeing with what he was saying. "Regardless, unless my opponent objects, I doubt my surrender is being contested."
"I am not contesting it, no," Shoto said. "This just means I win without needing to exert myself."
"Huh…Well, in that case, we will move on to round two! Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya! Please present yourself to the arena!"
Leaving the arena, Shinso had no reaction to the jeering of the crowd. However, upon turning a corner, he was met with someone. "Heroes don't quit so easily," Aizawa said, scolding him a bit. "You do realize your actions could impact your spot in UA, correct?"
"I merely acted logically," Shinso said directly. "The fighting conditions are not in my favor. Just like the entrance exam, this tournament is tailored to those with flashier Quirks."
"Correct," Aizawa admitted. "Which is why I add that, despite your performance, you can rest easily. Your position in 1A won't change. I will, however, require more effort from you during our training sessions, understood?"
"Crystal clear, Sir," Shinso replied.
"Good. You did well to reach this far. And you are right in saying you are ill-suited for this kind of fight. You are like me: we make use of the element of surprise. We take the opponent by surprise using our quirks and then use our fighting skills to finish the job. But we both rely on our quirks being unknown."
"Which is why I plan to join your agency, Sir," Shinso said, making his intention clear. "I know your agency operates by trying to avoid the eye of the media. You take all the spotlight to divert attention from your sidekicks."
"You did your homework." Aizawa smiled. "I will gladly extend an offer to you, Shinso."
"Thank you, Professor Erasurehead."
"To my left! The explosive haircut of 1A!" Midnight said, introducing Bakugou. "And to my right, the jack-of-all-trades, Izuku Midoriya!" She introduced Izuku, who stared directly at Bakugou, neither breaking eye contact. "Now, I must ask the same question I asked the other two!"
"Good!" Bakugou said loudly, and Izuku fully expected him to mock him by asking if he wanted to give up. But the words coming out of his mouth were words he did not expect. "Cuz I surrender." He said, his voice lower. Izuku's eyes widened as he examined Bakugou from head to toe, trying to look for any indication that he was lying. His hands were in his pockets, but other than that, he saw nothing else.
"Not again!" Midnight said, and the crowd actually went silent, stunned by two surrenders in a row. "Ok, same song, different lyrics! Tell us your reason for surrendering, Bakugou!"
"You know well, Teach. Deku and I fought once already, in an official UA challenge!" Bakugou revealed. "And I lost. And since then, he likely came to know his new forms well enough."
"True, but didn't you also show growth? Just today, you showed several new moves to the crowd! Your fight against Monoma clearly shows you know how to handle yourself against highly versatile opponents." Midnight reasoned.
"Not him. As it stands, I have no counter against Trihex, and asking him to handicap himself would be more insulting to me than it'd be to him!" Bakugou said, letting some of his usual temper seep through his words. "Plus! Not to mention he has other forms, too! Like that brainwashing freak said, if heroes get the luxury to pick their battles, then so do we! But don't think for a second this is the new status quo, Deku!" He pointed at Izuku. "I WILL become powerful enough to even the scales—No! I will become powerful enough to absolutely squash you like a bug!"
"Ok!" Midnight said, seeing the direction this was heading into. "With that said, I guess that ends the semi-finals in the most anticlimactic way in UA's history, with two consecutive surrenders back to back!" The crowd jeered again. "Well, the final battle promises to be anything but boring! We will now enter a 10-minute break and return to you with the FINALE!"
Bakugou walked through the hallways, and eventually, he was met with the skeletal figure of All Might in his deflated form. The hero was here on purpose, wishing to intercept Bakugou. "You did well."
"Speak for yourself," Bakugou replied, finally exposing his left hand, which he kept in his pockets the entire time. It had blood on it. "Having to surrender to Deku of all people… In front of so many people, no less! And to admit he was stronger than me… I actually dug into my palm with how hard I was clenching this fist, just to restrain myself from flying off the handle with an explosion before he so much as thought of turning!"
"But you didn't. That alone speaks volumes and shows you do have self-restraint." All Might said. "That is good. You admitted to your shortcomings, too. But now, with everything over, I will hold onto my word. We will train whenever I have spare time, and under my authority, you can use the gyms again and train using your Quirk. And once you are ready? I will give you what you need to gain the upper hand."
Bakugou sneered. "This still leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth." He admitted. "I really hope this is all worth it in the end, All Might."
"It will be. Trust me on that."
Izuku was preparing in the lockers, scrolling through his forms to make a battle plan. However, Todoroki was obviously going to open with his massive wall of ice. Or maybe not. Regardless, he must be ready for any strategy. In his fight against Momo, he proved capable of more than just mindlessly blasting away with his Quirk.
He proved he could think. He proved he could strategize. Izuku needed to be ready for whatever he might try, but… At the same time, he cannot let him sink deeper into the hole he dug himself. Shoto's Quirk was his own. His fire was his own. Why couldn't he see that? What his father had done was beyond immoral, and Izuku shuddered to think what else went down between those closed doors of the Todoroki household.
But despite not being able to do anything about Endeavor, Izuku still believed he could reach Shoto and help him break free of his father's hold. He had to understand that to rise above his demons, he had to face them. Izuku proved that when he fought Michizune. When he fought Bakugou. If he could face his past demons, so could Shoto Todoroki.
Someone knocked on the door to the lockers.
Izuku perked up, thinking it was one of the teachers or his friends, likely coming to check on him before the match. "Yes?" He asked, then the door opened, revealing the very last person he expected to come see him before the match. His eyes widened, and he got on guard at once.
"So, you are the kid who can change forms." Endeavor said, looming over Izuku with an intimidating aura. "I must say, in your current state, you don't seem like much. But I saw first-hand how appearances are highly deceptive."
"Flame Hero: Endeavor. Number 2 Hero of Japan," Izuku said, but saw Endeavor's frown twitch when he mentioned his rank. "What do you want?"
"Oh? Not going to address me more politely? Others would be more humble before one of Japan's best." Endeavor said, pointing out Izuku's rude tone.
"I don't need to be polite or respectful to you," Izuku said, his eyes telling the entire story. And once Endeavor saw them, his own widened slightly. "I know what you truly are."
"You do…" Endeavor realized, his body tensing up. "I assume Shoto might have told you."
"I honestly was shocked to hear it," Izuku confessed. "I didn't expect a respected hero such as yourself to resort to such things. All for a perfect heir? You couldn't surpass All Might, so you passed on the burden to Shoto?"
"Who else knows?" Endeavor asked, his voice holding a dangerous edge.
"Just me," Izuku lied, staying calm thanks to the Omnitrix. "I figured no one else would believe me without proof." Endeavor didn't reply to that and just stared. "But now comes my question: What are you doing here? Are you here to intimidate me? Threaten me into surrendering and giving Shoto the win by default?"
Endeavor clicked his tongue. "Don't be absurd. Such a victory would be shameful."
"Well, you came here for a reason," Izuku said. "Are you here to tell me I'd lose? To gloat? To—"
"Shut up!" Endeavor said, raising his voice. "I am here to tell you something simple."
"Namely?"
"Make Shoto use fire." Endeavor said, plain and simple.
"Explain."
"His stubbornness in refusing to use the fire side of his Quirk is making him look like a fool. That fight he had against the Yaoyorozu girl could have been easily won had he just torched her. But he is deadset on defying me by refusing to use my flames! The fire he inherited from me!" Izuku's eyes shot up slightly. So, that is where Shoto's issue with his fire came from. Endeavor was claiming the flames were inherited from him, which was true, but the way he made it sound was as if he still owned them.
"I see. So that is where that stems from." Izuku muttered under his breath, something Endeavor caught.
"What are you mumbling about?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Izuku said. "But tell me, do you believe he can win?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course, he can win!" Endeavor said boldly. "His Quirk is perfect! The perfect mix of my fire and his mother's ice! His weaknesses are null if he balances out the two perfectly! A limitless Quirk! A perfect Quirk! While you operate on a time limit!"
"So you know of that," Izuku said, seeing his weakness was known. "In that case, Endeavor…" Izuku began walking to the door, the Omnitrix announcing that he had to go. "I will win and show you how meaningless your pet project is."
"What?!" Endeavor gasped, turning around just as Izuku opened the door.
"You wanted an heir to surpass All Might someday, because you yourself are unable to do so due to the limits of your body and Quirk," Izuku said, standing in the doorway. "But I don't think you accounted for someone else taking that position and repeating history. I will claim number 1. And your son will be my number 2. Just as you are All Might's number 2."
"You…" Endeavor's flames grew, enraged by Izuku's words.
"I need to go. The fight is about to start." He then left, leaving Endeavor alone in the lockers, fuming with anger. As he walked, however, Izuku pondered if it was smart to bait Endeavor like that. Since Michizune gave himself up due to his inability to control his emotions, he was banking on the fact that Endeavor might do the same.
But maybe he was being foolish. Endeavor knows he knows of his Quirk Marriage, but likely thinks no one would take Izuku seriously if he told them, due to his reputation or because his friends would seek to contain the leak. Regardless, he had to get to the fight. He was going to help Shoto, no matter what anyone says.
Endeavor will see fire. But it will be Shoto's own fire! Not his!
"ALRIGHT!" Midnight shouted into the microphone, the crowd cheering loudly as the two contestants appeared on stage. "Today has been all kinds of funky! From thrown fights, to regretful incidents, and even a very anticlimactic semifinals! But now we've reached the end of the first day of the Sports Festival! To cap it all off, we will have two powerhouses compete in one final battle to see who is truly deserving to be a hero!"
"To my left! The Dual-Quirk user himself! Son of Japan's Number 2 Hero! Shoto Todoroki!" Midnight introduced Shoto first, who climbed onto the stage wearing the same blank expression as always.
"And to my right! Aldera's survivor! The jack of all trades, who can turn into a myriad of forms, each equipped with its own set of unique abilities! You saw him fight against his past demons right here! Izuku Midoriya!" And now she introduced Izuku, who climbed onto the stage as well, Omnitrix fully prepared and ready to be used.
"Given your Quirk, I expect you to give me quite a bit of trouble," Shoto admitted.
"And I expect you to give it your all," Izuku said, brandishing his Omnitrix at him. "Otherwise, this won't be good enough."
"What do you—"
"Alright!" Midnight interrupted Shoto without wanting to. "Contestants! Get ready!" She gave the sign to prepare, and the Omnitrix's core already popped up as Izuku hovered his hand over it, with Shoto already forming ice on his body. "Begin!"
Predictably, the wave of ice came right out of the gate. But after using this move again and again, it was predictable. Izuku slammed the dial quickly, and as the ice enveloped him, it was quickly shattered by a fiery explosion from within. The barrier had deployed, and Midnight stepped out, too. That meant the audience was safe. But Shoto knew he wasn't. In front of him stood Fire Hazard, melting the surrounding ice with his sheer presence.
"This one…" Shoto said, narrowing his eyes at him. "Last I recall… Your weakness is being put out!" He launched another wave of ice at him, but Fire Hazard was not idle. He raised his hand and fired a counter-wave of fire, causing steam to erupt as the two opposing elements clashed.
"Is this all?!" Fire Hazard asked loudly as he swiped his arm into the steam, clearing his vision. "If all you are going to do is blast ice at me, you could at least warm yourself!"
"What?" Shoto said.
"I know what your Quirk is, Todoroki. You think I am a fool?! If you used your fire, you could push your ice further! Maybe even far enough to finally put me out!" Fire Hazard shouted, pointing out directly how Shoto could win. But the boy hated it.
"Shut up! I told you already, I will win without using HIS QUIRK!" He shouted, slamming his hand onto the ground and sending a thin layer of ice that traveled to Izuku. However, when Fire Hazard stomped his foot onto the ground, creating a ring of fire, he cut the ice's advance right off. "Not done yet!" Shoto shouted, then launched another massive wave of ice at Fire Hazard, only for the previous scenario to repeat itself.
But he didn't give up. He kept sending waves of ice at Fire Hazard, but he kept countering them. "My fire is stronger than your ice!" Fire Hazard pointed out. "And now… Time to show you what it can do!" He went on the offensive, sending a powerful stream of fire right at Shoto. In response, Shoto raised a thick wall of ice to block it, but when the fire impacted it, Shoto could feel the heat radiating even through the ice! And it was melting his ice quickly.
The wall was cracking and breaking apart at the edges. "I told you…I am not going to use his Quirk! His fire! Never! " Shoto shouted, his stoic mask cracking and making room for anger to shine through. He pushed his arm forth against the wall, causing ice to rapidly expand from it onward toward Fire Hazard.
This was new! Fire Hazard stopped his attack and quickly flew up, avoiding the ice that was going to skewer him alive! But the ice was different. Bluer.
"Blue ice?" Fire Hazard said, surprised by the development. "Since when could you turn your ice blue?"
"I trained my ice like no tomorrow to never have to rely on his flames!" Shoto declared. "Blue Ice is the result of that training. The ice is extremely condensed, just like an ancient glacier."
"Making it resistant to the effects of heat." Fire Hazard realized. "I must say…" He landed. "It is impressive how far you reached with one side of your Quirk. But this won't change anything. I don't think this blue ice comes free, does it?"
"Tch." Shoto clicked his tongue.
"I knew it. Using it makes you reach your limit faster." Fire Hazard said. The part of Izuku that deals in Quirk analysis was shining through. "A fair trade. I guess it is only fair that I also reveal something of mine. See those flames on my shoulders?"
"What of them?" Shoto asked.
"They have a purpose. As it stands, my body burns and keeps producing flames constantly. But after a certain point, too much heat builds up in my body. I am not entirely made of fire, as you can see. I am more akin to a being made of rock that just stays on fire. And my rock could potentially melt. Those shoulders of mine? They are like exhausts. They help disperse excess heat for safety reasons."
"So?" Shoto asked.
"What do you think happens when I close off the vents?" He asked, and sure enough, the flames on his shoulders vanished. But upon doing that, the surrounding flames seemed to grow hotter. Shoto saw this and prepared to use his Blue Ice again. "ERUPTION!" Fire Hazard shouted as he fired off a massive stream of fire, burning white-hot! Upon impacting a solid wall of blue ice, however, the fire was stopped, but not for long.
It didn't take long for the fire to break the ice apart, and eventually, Shoto found himself blown back by the flames. "GAHHH!" He screamed as he flew across the arena, his clothing burned and covered in soot. Fire Hazard opened up his shoulders again, allowing the heat to escape once again. But strangely, Shoto was not burned. He was shivering. His breath was visible.
"You reached your limit with your ice." Fire Hazard pointed out. "Give up, Todoroki. As you are, you cannot possibly defeat me."
"Shut up!" He shouted, getting up. "What do you know? I said I won't use his Quirk to win, and I will hold myself to that promise!"
"Why?" Fire Hazard asked.
"I told you why!"
"No!" Fire Hazard shouted back. "Why do you think your fire is his?!"
"What—what are you—"
"Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to hear you talk right now?!" Fire Hazard shouted, letting his temper shine. "His Quirk this and his Quirk that! Pwah! At least you grew up with your Quirk! What do I know? I know how it is to be treated like nothing! How it is to be treated like I don't matter! Like, I am disposable! Just because I seemed to lack a Quirk for most of my life! But not you! You always had your quirk! You were born with it, even if you didn't ask for it! Well, boohoo! I didn't ask to be born virtually Quirkless!"
"Midoriya…" Shoto looked in shock at the temper of Fire Hazard. That's right. His forms alter his personality, but the thoughts, the feelings—they are still Izuku's! Currently, Fire Hazard was merely saying what Midoriya thinks! No! That was not it! They are the same! Shoto clenched his teeth. "What would you even have me do, then?! Give in?! Use the fire side of my Quirk?! If I do, I just end up playing his game!"
"No, you won't!" Fire Hazard pointed out. "If you refuse to use your fire, you are disgracing your mother!"
"Don't you dare go there!"
"She is one of the reasons you want to be a hero, is she not? Heroes don't hold back; they go PLUS ULTRA!" To prove his point, Fire Hazard made a colossal pillar of fire erupt upward, frightening the audience, as even through the barrier, the heat from the pillar was felt. And Endeavor, watching the display, finally realized the difference in firepower between the two. "IT IS YOUR QUIRK! DON'T HOLD IT BACK LIKE THIS!"
"I can't…" Shoto said, his hands shaking. "If I do…I'll become just like him!"
"You won't!" Fire Hazard continued, still shouting. "You are better than him! Your fire can be better!"
"My fire…better than his?" Shoto echoed slowly, the words feeling alien to him. Yet, he had never considered it before.
"You told me he wants you to be greater than him so you could inherit his will and climb to the top, even beyond All Might! But that is not why you should become a hero! Not why you should strive for the top! A hero sacrifices himself so those behind him can be safe! Isn't that a goal more noble than chasing some stupid ranking?!"
"ENOUGH!" Endeavor shouted, flying above the arena, face clearly enraged.
"What the— Endeavor! Get back to the spectator area, right this instant! You are not allowed within this area!" Midnight warned him.
"No!" Endeavor shouted. "This interloper is spewing lies!"
"Interloper? Me?" Fire Hazard pointed at himself. "What lies am I spewing? Shoto Todoroki's Quirk is his own! His fire is his own! He will make it burn hotter than you could ever get your flames to burn!"
"And who will he have to thank for having that fire to begin with?!" Endeavor asked. "He is my son! The fire he wields is the fire he inherited from me!"
"Then prove it!" Fire Hazard pointed at Shoto. "Take it away!"
"What?!" Endeavor gasped.
"If you claim the fire he wields is all due to you, your gift, then the gift given can be taken!" Fire Hazard said loudly, the crowd utterly stunned by the display before them.
"Don't be absurd! I cannot just take his Quirk away!"
"Then you admit it!" Fire Hazard pointed out. "You admit his fire is his own! You heard him, Shoto!"
"Shoto, don't listen to him!" Endeavor shouted.
Shoto clenched his fist, but then, strangely, he started laughing. Endeavor recoiled at his, as he had never heard Shoto laugh before. Fire Hazard watched curiously as well. "What is the matter with you both? No, what is the matter with you, Father?" Shoto shouted at Endeavor. "For years, you wanted me to start using my fire! You even beat me over it!" The crowd gasped as Shoto revealed that, making everyone stare at Endeavor.
Endeavor saw this as well, and he was quick to realize his current position. "Shoto…Be-"
"NO!" Shoto shouted. "Midoriya… Forgive me for what I am about to do."
"What is that supposed to—Woah!" Suddenly, Shoto's left side erupted into flames, spooking Fire Hazard briefly. But then he saw it. The ice that was forming on his right side was melting away, and he was no longer shivering! "Yes…"
"You said my fire can extend how long I can use my ice for! And you are right!" Shoto said, clenching his left fist as flames danced around it. "Now take this!" He slammed his right hand into the ground again, creating ice spikes that erupted from the ground, all of them blue! As a direct response, Fire Hazard flew higher, avoiding them.
"AHA! Now we are talking!" He said, flying into the air and looking down at Shoto. "Now the real fight can begin!" He bomb-dived at Shoto, pulling his arms back, and, once he was close enough, released a powerful torrent of fire. However, Shoto created a barrier of blue ice to protect himself, the side effects being quickly quelled by his fire half.
The ice held, and Fire Hazard found himself landing on it directly, pressing his palm against it and managing to punch a hole through. However, Shoto was prepared and launched a direct stream of ice at Fire Hazard, encasing his torso and left arm. Fire Hazard launched himself away by shooting fire from his feet, then increased his temperature to break away the ice again.
The entire arena was covered in ice, and Fire Hazard used it as natural cover when Shoto launched another wave of blue ice at him. Despite avoiding being frozen solid, he still found himself surrounded by ice. To escape, Fire Hazard let loose, unleashing his flames and once again breaking himself free.
He flew high, aiming to find where Shoto was and launch a more direct attack. But he was read.
Shoto launched a wave of ice upward, and before Fire Hazard had time to counter, the ice caught him. "GOD! THIS IS COLD!" He shouted, feeling the chill of the blue ice. However, even though it caught him once, he once again heated up and broke free, dropping and standing face-to-face with Shoto once again. "But this is also good. A real fight!"
"Are you certain?!" Shoto asked, more ice forming to his right. "You have a limit, Midoriya! Once that is reached, you will turn back!"
"That is the thing! I can go beyond it!" Fire Hazard declared. "And Shoto! Call me Izuku."
Shoto paused for a bit at that but then smiled. "Very well, Izuku! Now give me your best shot! I am going to go all out with this next attack!"
The vents on his shoulders closed up. "As you wish." The heat was rising fast inside him, and Shoto was slowly generating more and more ice.
"Shit! Reinforce the barrier, now!" Midnight shouted just in time.
"ERUPTION!" Fire Hazard shouted.
"BLUE ANGEL'S FALL!" Shoto shouted.
The two attacks, fire as white as light and ice as blue as tears, clashed against each other. Izuku's fire was trying to go through the ice, but the ice was growing and spreading fast. The two of them were in a total stalemate, and it was difficult to look due to the light emitted by Izuku's fire and the reflection of it from the ice.
The barrier was barely holding as they clashed, but they forgot something. The barrier didn't go up indefinitely.
A secondary fire-based attack struck down, hitting Izuku dead on. "GAH!" He screamed as the force of the blast distracted him, then the ice managed to get through and froze him solid.
"HEY!" Midnight shouted, looking up to see Endeavor there. "THAT IS OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE!"
"Shut up!" Endeavor shouted at Midnight as he descended. "This circus has dragged on for too long!"
"Dad, what the heck do you think you're doing?!" Shoto asked as he saw Endeavor go near Izuku.
"DROP THE BARRIER! NOW!"
"This boy is a threat." Endeavor said, lifting his hand. "And I am going to deal with it!"
"Danger detected! Current form is the most appropriate. ERROR! Current form is insufficient! ERROR! WARNING! Fixing Error… Error fixed! Solution detected!"The Omnitrix said as Endeavor slowly charged up his attack. "Initiating Evolution!" The Omnitrix's badge on his chest began spinning until it landed sideways, then Izuku felt something.
Something was different. Something was new. The Omnitrix changed to a lighter shade of green, and his entire body began getting covered by a wave of energy. As Endeavor's hand came down, the world moved in slow motion as Fire Hazard… Evolved… And then his fire burned brighter than ever.
Endeavor was launched back by the eruption coming from the ice, with steam coming off it in large amounts. "What is this?!"
"Endeavor!" The barrier had finally dropped, and Midnight was there, ready to rip her suit and unleash her knockout gas, along with Erasurehead, to nullify his Quirk entirely. But they stopped once they saw what was coming out of the steam. "That… Is new."
"He looks like a demon." Endeavor said as Fire Hazard climbed out, but he was changed. The rock on him had become pitch black, and fire blood red. Those unnatural colors were joined by a change in look as well. The vents on his shoulders were gone, moved to the back, where he now had four vents pointing down, venting out the excess heat. In their place, he now had two large, horn-like growths coming from his shoulders.
His head was changed as well. It retained the fiery look, but now, he had horns. He was taller now, too, but looked a bit lankier. As he opened his mouth, he revealed zig-zagged rock, mimicking fangs. And his hands? They now ended in claw-like formations. The only thing unchanged about him was his feet.
"I feel… Strange." Fire Hazard said, then looked at him. "I feel… Powerful."
"Izuku?" Shoto called out to him. "Are you-"
"I'm here," Izuku confirmed. "But this is new."
"Is this a new form?" Midnight asked.
"No." He looked at the badge. It was sideways now. "This is still Fire Hazard, but…enhanced! Evolved!"
"Your forms can evolve?" Aizawa asked, shocked by what he just heard.
"So it seems." Fire Hazar said, then locked eyes with Endeavor. "And now, payback!"
"Wait!" Shoto intervened, however. "I surrender."
"What?!" Endeavor gasped. "Shoto! What are you saying?!"
"You intervened and caused Midoriya to lose focus, resulting in him being frozen solid." Shoto pointed out. "As Professor Midnight said, this is outside interference. And since it was done to give me an unfair edge, it is only fair that I announce my surrender here and now. But don't worry. You got your wish. I will use my fire again, but this time, understand well, Father. This is my flame and my fire! And when I graduate, I will make sure I rise as a hero the way I want to be! One I can be proud of! One better than you."
"You insolent-" Suddenly, his flames went out. "Erasure…" He looked back at Aizawa.
"This is the second time today I had to use my Quirk, so I am in quite a sour mood already," Aizawa said. "But I hope you understand that your actions will have consequences, Endeavor."
"Tch. Fine!" He turned around. "I will leave. But know this is not over, Shoto!"
"No, Dad, you are wrong." Shoto walked to Fire Hazard, the heat not bothering him. "It is over. I finally found a friend who showed me just how narrow my sight was."
Fire Hazard grinned, which made Midnight shiver. "Can you turn back?!" She asked. "This form is creepy! Almost as creepy as the ghost one!"
"Oh! Sure, let me just…" He reached the badge, tapping it.
"Disengaging Pyronite Evolution." The Omnitrix said in his head, then he turned back to Fire Hazard's normal form and then returned to normal. But everyone gasped upon seeing him.
"What? What is it?" Izuku asked, only to be shown by Shoto in a piece of ice what was on his face. He had rocks on his face. Warm rocks. "Oh no, not again."
"Tch." Endeavor left, stomping on the ground. This was going to be a bad PR hit for him.
"Well…" Midnight cleared her throat, then addressed the stunned crowd. "Due to Endeavor's interference, Shoto Todoroki has decided to surrender! As such, I hereby declare the winner of this year's Sport Festival as the HAP protégé of Mirko, Izuku Midoriya!"
Celebratory music played as confetti was launched over the arena, all to celebrate Izuku's victory. The crowd cheered as Izuku took the main stage, and as he looked around, he couldn't help but feel… Good. All his life, he never got so much positive attention, and now that he was in the center of it, he felt on top of the world.
Later, the award ceremony was held. Izuku was placed in first place, with Shoto taking second place, and lastly, Shinso and Katsuki both took third place. And as they stood there, in the cheers of the crowd, All Might showed.
"ALRIGHT! I AM HERE!" He gave his signature catchphrase, then approached them. "I have to say, this year was very riveting and full of twists! But I am proud to present you with your medals! First, Hitoshi Shinso and Katsuki Bakugou! You both showed much promise today as two entirely different extremes! One with a Quirk able to silently end a battle, and the other with a Quirk so loud and powerful it really brings a flash to battle!"
"Keep up the good work, both of you! You have bright futures ahead!" He turned to Shoto, presenting him with the silver medal. "Your courage today is undeniable, Shoto Todoroki. Not only have you stood up to your father, but you have also shown everyone that we are not bound by the desires of our parents! You found your fire and showed everyone how a true righteous flame burns!"
"Thank you, All Might. But I could never have done it without the aid of my friend." Shoto said, referring to Izuku.
"Ah, yes," All Might said, finally turning to Izuku. "Izuku Midoriya. Protégé of Mirko, under the HAP program. I must admit, I still have my reservations about you, but today you proved yourself a true hero in the making. Full of surprises, too! You helped young Todoroki find his flame, and that alone makes you a hero in the eyes of many. I am proud to present you with this year's first-place medal!" All Might gave Izuku the gold medal, then turned to the crowd. "Quite the year we've had, ladies and gentlemen! But rest assured! At UA, there is never a dull moment! We continually strive to become better than we were yesterday! Why? Because we go PLUS ULTRA!"
"PLUS ULTRA!" The crowd cheered together with All Might.