The shockwave from Reiji's punch sent Hawks flying backward, his wings flaring out at the last second to slow his momentum. He twisted midair, landing lightly on the edge of a building, one hand clutching his chest where the Hellfire-coated punch had struck him.
For the first time in the fight—
Hawks looked genuinely surprised.
Reiji, standing in the center of the urban battlefield, cracked his knuckles.
His golden flames flickered around him, but now they moved differently.
Sharper. Smoother. More controlled.
[Phantom Step is working perfectly.]
Hawks exhaled slowly, shaking off the mild pain in his chest. "Okay, gotta admit… that one actually hurt."
Reiji smirked. "Figured I'd wake you up a little."
Hawks tilted his head, golden eyes observing him closely. "So, that wasn't just teleportation, was it? You altered your movement pattern so I couldn't read it."
Reiji rolled his shoulders. "Something like that. You're fast, but now?"
He disappeared again—Phantom Step activating instantly.
Then—
FWOOOM!
He reappeared behind Hawks in a burst of golden flames.
"You're not the only fast one."
His **fist shot forward—**aiming straight for Hawks' ribs.
But this time—
Hawks was ready.
Speed vs. Instinct
Before Reiji's punch could land, Hawks moved.
Instead of dodging, he countered directly—a burst of feathers forming a defensive shield in front of his body.
Reiji's flaming fist clashed against the feather barrier, heat surging against Hawks' Quirk.
BOOM!
The explosion of force sent both fighters skidding back.
Reiji landed smoothly, his smirk widening. "Heh. Thought I had you there."
Hawks let out a breath, shaking his arms. "That was a close one. Guess I should take this seriously, huh?"
Then—his entire posture shifted.
His usual relaxed demeanor faded.
Now, his eyes were sharp. Focused. Deadly.
And the moment he **flared his wings—**Reiji knew.
[Oh. He's done messing around.]
The Sky Belongs to Hawks
Hawks vanished from sight.
Not Phantom Step—pure speed.
Reiji's eyes darted around, his battle instincts flaring as he tried to track him.
Then—he felt it.
A rush of wind—above.
[He's airborne!]
Reiji twisted upward, just in time to see Hawks descending at blinding speed, dozens of razor-sharp feathers surrounding him like a storm.
"Try dodging this!" Hawks called out.
SWOOSH!
The storm of red feathers shot down like homing missiles, each one sharp enough to pierce through solid steel.
Reiji didn't hesitate.
FWOOOM!
A massive barrier of Hellfire erupted around him, the sheer heat incinerating the incoming feathers before they could reach him.
But Hawks wasn't done.
He used the distraction of his attack to close the gap—appearing right in front of Reiji with a high-speed spinning kick.
"Gotcha!"
Reiji's eyes widened as the kick slammed into his side.
BOOM!
The force sent him flying through a building.
Pushing Beyond Limits
The impact left a crater in the wall, dust and debris settling as Reiji pushed himself up.
His breath was heavy.
Hawks landed nearby, arms crossed. "You keep up better than I expected. But you still leave yourself open."
Reiji grinned, wiping blood from his lip. "Tch. I'll give you that one."
But then—his golden eyes burned brighter.
"You won't get another."
FWOOOM!
Reiji's flames erupted higher than before, his Hellfire shifting in intensity.
Hawks' expression shifted slightly.
[He's… getting stronger? Mid-fight?]
Then, the system notification flashed in Reiji's mind.
[System Update: New Skill Unlocked]
[Skill: Infernal Burst]
[Description: Momentarily overcharges Hellfire, granting a massive boost to speed and power for a few seconds.]
Reiji smirked.
[Perfect.]
His flames compressed around his body, becoming denser, more concentrated.
Then—he moved.
And this time—
Even Hawks couldn't react fast enough.
BOOM!
Reiji crashed into him at full speed, his Hellfire-coated fist slamming into Hawks' gut.
CRACK!
The sheer impact shook the training field, sending Hawks soaring backward at blinding speed.
For the first time—Hawks lost control.
And the Pro Hero crashed into the ground below.
The Final Moments
Reiji exhaled slowly, his flames flickering as he landed on the ground.
Hawks, lying in a small crater, groaned before sitting up.
He let out a small laugh. "Well, damn."
Reiji rolled his shoulders. "Had enough, Birdman?"
Hawks studied him for a moment.
Then—he smirked.
"You passed."
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Hawks stretched his arms, standing up. "That was the goal, remember? You didn't have to win—you just had to prove you could keep up."
Reiji clicked his tongue. "Tch. So what, we're stopping here?"
Hawks chuckled. "As fun as this is, I think if we keep going, we'll end up destroying the training field."
Reiji sighed. "Fair."
Then—Hawks' expression became serious again.
"You're strong, kid. No doubt about that."
Then—he narrowed his eyes.
"But your mindset? That's another story."
Reiji stayed silent.
Hawks sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Look, I get it. You don't hesitate, you enjoy the fight. But that kind of thinking?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"That's how heroes get lost."
Reiji smirked, not replying.
Hawks studied him for a moment longer—then, his casual smile returned.
"Well, whatever. That's Aizawa's problem, not mine."
Then—he turned away.
"See ya around, Kurobane."
And just like that—he was gone.
Reiji stood there for a moment.
The fight was over.
But he could feel it.
Hawks' words—they would stick with him.
[Heroes get lost, huh?]
He chuckled to himself, walking away from the battlefield.
Too late for that.
End of Chapter 30.
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️