"Hey, you... how did you dodge that?!"

  Bakugo stared in shock at Tetsutetsu, who had somehow mao move from directly in front of him to the left sideline. Caught up in trying to figure out how his oppo had escaped, he momentarily fot about the intense pain in his arms.

  "Heh."

  Tetsutetsu gave a small, smug grin, but he wasn't going to expin. No oiced that his right leg was trembling slightly. The teique he'd just used would have seriously injured anyone else if they hadn't trained for it.

  In truth, he hadn't fully mastered this move. It was something he'd pulled off on instinct, more of a "lucky escape" than a fully trolled teique. To put it bluntly, he'd used it like a makeshift teleport.

  Yes, he'd somehow mao utilize the Mariyle teique "Shave," but barely. He'd been fortuo dodge the bst radius of Bakugo's Howitzer Impact, and he k.

  "Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said as he took a step closer, "after using that huge explosion, your Quirk probably needs a moment to recover!"

  He tio approach Bakugo, voice steady, "If you admit defeat now, at least you'll lose with a little dignity."

  "Hahahahaha!"

  Bakugo's arms trembled, but he grihrough the pain, his eyes filled with defiance. "You really think you've won, don't you? Ironhead?!"

  "Listen up, I might not be able to use my Quirk right now, but I'm not done!"

  Bakugo's voice was fierce, filled with an intense resolve. "If you want to beat me, you'll have to work for it, you steel bastard!"

  Tetsutetsu wasn't surprised by Bakugo's answer. After all, he khis guy's stubbornness.

  "In that case, I'm not holding back."

  He took a step forward, determination burning in his eyes. "I want to reach Kaminari in the finals..."

  With that, Tetsutetsu, his body hardened into steel once again, surged forward. This time, he went in with his hands instead of his legs.

  Bakugo didn't retreat. He could have bought time to recover his Quirk, but that wasn't his style. He wao win, but more than that, he wao win on his terms. Running away wasn't an option.

  So, Bakugo braced himself, his sharp gaze fixed oetsu's movements, analyzing every shift in stance. Without his explosions, he'd have to rely entirely on his reflexes.

  "Whoosh!"

  "Wham!"

  Tetsutetsu's fists came swinging in heavy arcs, but Bakugo's agility allowed him to dodge each strike with almost unnatural precision. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the onsught of punches and kicks. His raw instincts were on full dispy, showg the kind of fighting talent that set him apart.

  Despite the intense pressure from Tetsutetsu's attacks, Bakugo was managing to hold his ground, frustrating his oppo with each missed strike. Every time Tetsutetsu threowerful punch, Bakugo sidestepped it. Wheetsu went for a kick, Bakugo leaned back just far enough to avoid getting hit.

  The professional heroes in the audieched with wide eyes. Bakugo's erratic, yet precise, dodges were a sight to behold, dispying an almost feral sense of survival.

  "Is this kid... a genius or something?" one pro hero muttered in awe.

  But just when Bakugo was getting used to the rhythm, Tetsutetsu did something ued.

  "Boom!"

  This time, instead of throwing another punch or kick, Tetsutetsu stomped hard on the ground, sending a spray of loose t rocks flying like shraphe debris, remnants from Bakugo's earlier explosions, hurtled towards him with arming speed.

  Caught off guard, Bakugo couldn't dodge all of it. Several pieces of jagged t struck him, causing him to stumble. The pain forced a groan from his lips, and his movements faltered.

  "Gotcha!" Tetsutetsu growled, seizing his ce.

  In one swift move, Tetsutetsu closed the distance, grabbed Bakugo, and used his judo training to lift him into the air. Without a moment's hesitation, he hurled Bakugo towards the edge of the arena, aiming to throw him out.

  The battle had reached its peak.

  "LET GO, YOU BASTARD!"

  As Bakugo was airborne, he mao free one arm. Summoning the st reserves of his strength, he fired off an explosion at Tetsutetsu's head.

  "BOOM!"

  Both fighters went crashing down, engulfed in a cloud of smoke and dust. The dull thud of a heavy impact followed, eg across the silent stadium.

  As the smoke cleared, everyoheir breath.

  Tetsutetsu was standing.

  Bakugo rawled on the ground… just outside the boundary line.

  "Tetsutetsu wins by ring-out!"

  Midnight, the referee, raised her voice to annouhe result, flig her whip dramatically as she decred, "Bakugo Katsuki is out! Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu advao the finals!"

  Tetsutetsu, still standing at the edge of the ring, looked down at Bakugo, who was gring up at him with a mixture of anger and disbelief.

  "Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said calmly, "I'm just following my own path… a promise I made to myself."

  He then turned and looked up toward the Css 1-A se, where Kaminari was standing, a faint smile on his face.

  "Kaminari… see you in the finals."

  As Tetsutetsu walked away, the crowd finally erupted, cheering wildly. The eadium was electrified, stunned by the ued result.

  "I hought Bakugo would actually lose!!"

  "Yeah, I thought he was a shoo-in for the finals! I mean, with his attitude and strength, he seemed unstoppable!"

  "What's the name of that steel guy agaietsu, right? Total dark horse!"

  Meanwhile, in the Css 1-A stands, his cssmates were equally shocked.

  "I... I 't believe it…" Mia stammered. "Bakugo actually lost?"

  Ashido's mouth hung open. "Tetsutetsu… he just… he just became a total dark horse in this petition!"

  Even Midoriya was struggling to process what he'd seen. "K-Ka… he… he lost… to Tetsutetsu?"

  Todoroki, who'd been watg from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. Even he hadn't expected Bakugo to lose.

  But Kaminari wasn't particurly surprised. He'd seen something ge ietsu retly, a calm fidend a determination that had taken his skills to another level.

  Looks like Tetsutetsu's been holding back more than I thought, Kaminari thought, a faint smile crossing his lips. He began to piece together a theory, remembering a few hints he'd picked up on.

  If he's mastered 'Shave,' then his bat style is on a different level nopo who bines iron defense, raw strength, and speed? Yeah, that's gonough.

  He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, already thinking of ways he might have to adapt for their final showdown.

  ***

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