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Chapter 24 - Chapter 24 : Clash of Titans and the Path to the Semifinals

I walked back from the arena, each step feeling heavier than the last. My right arm throbbed with a dull ache, an echo of the power I had just summoned. Even though I had won, I was keenly aware that it had been a narrow victory. If Tokoyami had been more patient, or if Dark Shadow had been slightly stronger in the sunlight, the result might have been very different. As I entered the dim corridor, I met Tokoyami walking from the opposite direction. He stopped and gave me a respectful nod.

"A good fight, Tatsumi," he said in his deep, calm voice. "Your power... it's strange. It feels dark and ancient, but the way you used it... there was no malice there. You fought with honor."

"You were a formidable opponent as well, Tokoyami," I replied sincerely. "Dark Shadow is an incredible Quirk. If this fight had been held at night, I'm sure I would have been soundly defeated."

He nodded again, a silent understanding passing between us. We may have been opponents in the arena, but outside of it, we were classmates who respected each other's strength.

When I returned to the Class 1-A stands, I was met with a variety of reactions. Toru, of course, was the most enthusiastic, jumping in place while congratulating me. Kirishima gave me a light punch on the shoulder. "Now that was manly! Beating your opponent with one arm!" he exclaimed. I just smiled faintly, not wanting to explain that it was the only thing I could do.

My eyes met Momo's. She gave me a long, analytical look, as if she were solving a complex equation in her head. "A controlled partial manifestation," she whispered, more to herself than to me. "The level of control you demonstrated... it was incredible. You're a fast learner, Tatsumi-san." Praise from her, based on observation and logic, meant more than a hundred cheers.

The next fight in the second round was soon announced. It was the one the fans of brutal slugfests had been waiting for: Bakugo Katsuki versus Kirishima Eijiro. This was a clash between friends and rivals, a battle between an unstoppable explosion and an unbreakable defense. I leaned forward, my eyes glued to the screen. This was no longer just a spectacle. This was research. The winner of this fight was my opponent in the semifinals.

Their fight was exactly as expected: a brutal, no-holds-barred war of attrition. Kirishima activated his "Unbreakable" form, turning his entire body into jagged rock as hard as diamond. He charged forward, intending to end the fight in a brawl. Bakugo, on the other hand, didn't back down. He met the charge with a barrage of explosions from his palms.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The arena trembled from their impacts. It was a pure war of attrition. Kirishima kept advancing, tanking explosion after explosion, trying to land one decisive blow. Bakugo, while constantly blasting, agilely used smaller explosions to maintain distance and reposition himself, never letting Kirishima get a grip on him.

"They're both monsters!" Kaminari exclaimed nervously.

But I saw more than just a power struggle. I saw Bakugo's terrifying combat intelligence. He wasn't just blasting aimlessly. Each of his explosions was directed, targeting the same point on Kirishima's body over and over. He wasn't trying to shatter Kirishima's defense in one go. He was weakening it, creating micro-fractures, chipping away at the endurance of Kirishima's Quirk bit by bit. 'He's not just a raving madman,' I thought with a cold realization. 'He's a battle genius who happens to be crazy.'

After several tense minutes, his strategy paid off. Kirishima's "Unbreakable" defense finally reached its limit. With one last, focused blast, Bakugo managed to shatter the defense on Kirishima's arm, sending him staggering back. Before Kirishima could reactivate his Quirk, Bakugo was on him. He didn't launch a final attack. He just stared at his exhausted friend. Kirishima, knowing he was beaten, collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Bakugo was the winner. I swallowed hard. So, that was my next opponent.

In the heroes' lounge, Nejire Hado jumped out of her seat. "Whoa! He did it! He really did it! He only brought out the armor on his arm! So cool! How did he do that, Ryukyu? Is it easier? Does it hurt less? Can he make other parts too? Like rocket boots? Or maybe wings? I have so many questions!"

Ryukyu smiled faintly, her eyes never leaving the screen showing Tatsumi's calm face. The faint resonance she had felt before was now clearer, more focused. "He didn't just release it, Nejire," she said, her voice filled with a rare admiration. "He... negotiated with it. He asked for just enough power to break through, and the power gave him what he needed, nothing more. That was an incredible act of will." She leaned back in her chair, a decision forming in her mind. "That boy doesn't just have a dragon; he's learning how to be its rider. Nezu really found a diamond this time." She turned to her aide. "Make sure our agency submits an internship offer for Tatsumi from Class 1-A. I must see that power up close."

The final fight of the second round was between Todoroki and Iida. It was a fight that was over before it truly began. Iida, knowing he couldn't compete in a long-range battle, used his ultimate move, "Recipro Burst," to attempt a blitz attack. He shot forward with a speed nearly invisible to the naked eye. But Todoroki had anticipated it. With cold composure, he didn't try to stop Iida. Instead, he created a thick block of ice on the ground, directly behind Iida. As Iida shot past him, Todoroki grew ice spikes from the block, which instantly clogged and froze the engines in Iida's calves. Iida stumbled hard, his incredible momentum sending him tumbling and sliding uncontrollably. The fight was over in seconds. Another victory that demonstrated Todoroki's terrifying calculation and raw power.

The semifinal bracket was displayed on the giant screen: Todoroki Shoto vs. the winner of another match (which Iida later won by default as his opponent withdrew), and... Tatsumi vs. Bakugo Katsuki.

The entire stadium roared. Two dream matchups. The son of the Number Two Hero against the super-fast class president, and the mysterious first-ranked student against the explosive monster who took third.

There was a short break before the semifinals began. I walked to the waiting room, trying to recover my stamina and calm my mind. I replayed Bakugo's fight against Kirishima in my head. I couldn't beat him the same way I beat Kaminari. Bakugo was too smart and too mobile to fall for a simple psychological trap. I also couldn't beat him in a contest of pure physical strength. His explosions would shred me before I could get close. A defensive strategy like the one I used against Tokoyami wouldn't work either; Dark Shadow's defense was fluid and could regenerate, while my armor, if it took too many direct explosions, would surely shatter—along with my body inside it.

This felt like a dead end. Every scenario I ran through ended in my defeat. I sat on the cold bench, my head in my hands, feeling the immense pressure. To win against Bakugo, I needed more than just one armored arm. I needed the speed to match his explosions. I needed the defense to withstand his attacks. I needed more power.

I closed my eyes, focusing inward again. I reached out to that dragon's heartbeat, which now felt a little closer, a little more responsive. 'I know this hurts,' I thought, sending my feelings into my inner darkness. 'I know every time I call on you, it hurts us both. But I'm fighting Bakugo now. I can't win alone. I need more. I need the speed to keep up with him. I need the defense to withstand his blasts. Please... lend me your strength one more time. Let's show them our true power.'

I didn't expect an answer. But I felt it. The heartbeat grew stronger, its rhythm quickening. The familiar heat began to spread from my chest, this time feeling less like searing pain and more like a call to battle. I didn't know if it would be enough. I didn't know if I could control a larger manifestation. But I had to try.

"THE FIRST SEMIFINAL CONTESTANTS, PLEASE ENTER THE ARENA!" Present Mic's voice echoed, snapping me out of my meditation. "IN THE RED CORNER, THE WALKING VOLCANO FROM CLASS 1-A, BAKUGO KATSUKI! AND IN THE BLUE CORNER, THE CALM AND COLLECTED STRATEGIST, TATSUMI!"

I stood up. The fear was still there, but it was now covered by a layer of cold determination. I walked down the tunnel, each step heavy. I was about to face one of the most talented and destructive people of my generation. I was about to face him with a power I barely understood. As I stepped out into the blinding light and the roar of the crowd, I knew one thing for certain: this was going to be the hardest fight of my life.

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