The roar of the crowd filled the massive stadium as the quarterfinal matches began.
And the first fight?
Reiji Kurobane vs. Tokoyami Fumikage
Reiji stepped into the arena, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His golden eyes gleamed with excitement.
Across from him, Tokoyami stood still, arms crossed, his shadow shifting restlessly beneath him.
The entire stadium was watching.
This wasn't just a match.
This was a war between light and darkness.
The Announcers' Reactions
Present Mic's voice boomed through the speakers.
"ALRIGHT, FOLKS! THIS IS IT—THE QUARTERFINALS! AND WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH A FREAKING HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH!"
Aizawa, sitting in the commentary booth, sighed. "This match will be determined by how well Tokoyami can manage his Dark Shadow."
All Might, watching from the VIP section, nodded seriously.
"Reiji's flames are a direct counter to Tokoyami's Quirk. But Tokoyami isn't weak. If he plays it right, he can turn the tides."
The screen zoomed in on the two combatants.
The arena was silent.
Midnight raised her hand.
"BEGIN!"
The First Clash
BOOM!
Tokoyami struck first.
"Dark Shadow—ATTACK!"
The massive shadow beast erupted forward, its dark claws slashing toward Reiji at blinding speed.
Reiji?
He didn't move.
He simply lifted a single finger.
FWOOOOM!
A wave of Hellfire burst outward, engulfing the entire battlefield in its eerie, golden glow.
Dark Shadow screeched in pain, recoiling instantly from the flames.
The crowd gasped.
"IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE!" Present Mic shouted.
Reiji tilted his head. "You should've started with something else."
Tokoyami gritted his teeth. "Tch… So you knew."
Reiji grinned. "Of course I did."
He took a step forward.
And vanished.
BOOM!
A burst of Hellfire exploded behind Tokoyami.
His instincts screamed—MOVE!
But before he could react, Reiji's fist buried itself into his gut.
CRACK!
Tokoyami staggered backward, coughing.
His vision blurred. [He's fast—too fast!]
Reiji kept walking forward, flames flickering at his fingertips.
"Your Dark Shadow is powerful, but it's fragile."
Tokoyami wiped his mouth. "You talk too much."
He clenched his fists.
"Then let's make this a battle of control."
His eyes flashed.
"Dark Shadow—BERSERK MODE!"
The stadium rumbled.
Dark Shadow swelled in size, its body twisting into a monstrous, uncontrollable form.
The sky above them darkened.
Reiji's grin widened.
[Now we're talking.]
The Monster Awakens
Dark Shadow roared, its eyes glowing red.
The moment it attacked—
The entire battlefield shook.
The speed was unreal.
Dark Shadow's claws ripped through the air, cutting through the ground like paper.
Reiji barely dodged, flames blazing beneath his feet as he teleported backward.
The crowd screamed.
"DARK SHADOW IS OUT OF CONTROL!"
"CAN REIJI EVEN HANDLE THAT?!"
Reiji laughed.
"You finally stopped holding back. Good."
Then—
His golden eyes gleamed.
"Now I won't hold back either."
FWOOOOM!
The Hellfire around him expanded, the temperature skyrocketing.
For the first time, Tokoyami's expression changed.
[This heat… It's suffocating.]
Reiji took a step forward, then vanished.
Dark Shadow lunged.
But this time—
Reiji was already behind Tokoyami.
"You lose."
Before Tokoyami could react—
BOOM!
A flaming uppercut slammed into his jaw.
The force lifted him off his feet, his body twisting in the air.
Dark Shadow shrieked—then instantly retracted, its energy completely exhausted.
Tokoyami crashed onto the ground.
The buzzer rang.
Midnight raised her hand.
"Winner: Reiji Kurobane!"
The stadium erupted.
After the Fight
Reiji stood over Tokoyami, watching as he struggled to sit up.
Tokoyami wiped his mouth, exhaling. "Tch. It's over."
Reiji smirked. "Not bad."
Tokoyami looked up. "You knew you had the advantage the whole time… but you still let me fight at my best."
Reiji tilted his head. "Of course."
His golden eyes burned.
"There's no fun in crushing weaklings."
He turned and walked away.
"Get stronger. Then come back and try again."
Tokoyami watched him go, his fists tightening.
[Next time… I will.]
The Quarterfinals Continue
With Reiji advancing, the next matches quickly followed.
Todoroki vs. Iida: Todoroki froze Iida's engines and ended the match instantly.Bakugo vs. Tsuyu: Bakugo brutally overpowered Tsuyu with explosions.Deku vs. Shinsou: Deku broke out of Shinsou's Brainwashing Quirk using One for All.
Now, the semifinals were set.
Semifinal Matchups:
Reiji vs. TodorokiBakugo vs. Deku
Reiji grinned.
Finally.
The match he'd been waiting for.
As he walked back to the waiting room, Todoroki stood at the entrance, waiting for him.
His cold gaze burned with intensity.
"This time," Todoroki said quietly, "I'll use everything."
Reiji smirked.
"Good."
Because if Todoroki didn't give his all…
He'd break him completely.
End of Chapter 16.
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