"This... how can he knock people out so far? Just how powerful is he?"
"It's a pity. Just a little more and he would have sent the other guy flying out of bounds."
"Don't his Quirks breathe fire?"
"I heard his Quirk was Hypnosis!"
The audience broke into murmurs, every spectator reacting differently, voices overlapping with a blend of awe, curiosity, and disbelief. The stadium buzzed with energy, but amidst the commotion, one figure remained deathly silent—Endeavor.
Unlike the others, Endeavor's gaze wasn't one of amazement, but scrutiny.
"He… did it on purpose," Endeavor muttered, his brow deeply furrowed as he stared at the lone figure standing calmly on the field. "He held back at the last second."
Even through the flurry of motion, Endeavor had caught it—Madara's punch hadn't gone all out. That display of raw strength was a carefully measured blow. But why?
What was this boy after?
"Just a little bit more, and Kirishima Eijiro would've been eliminated!" Present Mic's voice exploded through the mic, his energy doing little to hide the nervous thrill in his voice. "That was way too close!"
"That… was insane," Kirishima Eijiro whispered, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. He could still feel the lingering shockwaves from the earlier blow. His body ached—not from being hit, but from being shaken by the aftershock alone.
"What the hell did you eat growing up to be that strong?!" Kirishima dusted his face with trembling fingers. Despite his hardened skin, a chilling unease clawed at his nerves.
Across from him, Madara casually blew at his right fist. "You're pretty sturdy," he said, as if testing the strength of a weapon. "Let's see if you can take the next one."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kirishima's eyes widened. His instincts screamed at him to run, to move, to do anything but stay put. He took a half step back, inching dangerously close to the ring's edge. "Wh-What are you doing?!"
"Testing your limits," Madara replied simply.
Then he vanished.
Kirishima's heart stopped.
Madara reappeared in front of him like a phantom, his fist already mid-swing. Kirishima tried to harden his entire body, but his reaction lagged a second too slow. He saw nothing but Madara's fist, glinting with the momentum of a mountain crashing down.
BOOM!!!
The entire stadium trembled.
A deafening explosion cracked through the arena, accompanied by a blinding cloud of dust that swept through the air like a sandstorm. The earth shook as though it had been struck by a meteor. Gasps rippled through the stands.
"Not good!" Cementoss jumped to his feet. Without hesitation, he crouched low and pressed his hands against the ground, pumping out massive slabs of cement to reinforce the stadium's foundation.
The dust began to clear, revealing a scene that left everyone speechless.
Madara was crouched at the center of a massive crater, his right fist embedded deep into the shattered ground. The pit looked several meters deep, sending both fighters below the horizon line of the stage.
Beside him lay Kirishima, trembling like a leaf, his body miraculously intact—no blood, no broken bones, just pure, overwhelming fear.
Cementoss blinked in confusion. "He didn't hit him?"
The realization struck a second later. Madara had missed on purpose.
"I-I admit defeat!" Kirishima's voice cracked as he shakily raised a hand. Tears welled in the corner of his eyes. His face was locked in a twisted expression between shame and terror.
"I swear, I nearly wet myself!"
Madara stood up slowly, brushing dust from his sleeve. "That's it?"
"If I didn't surrender, I'd be dead right now!" Kirishima yelled, still on his back. "Do you have to be that brutal?!"
Madara blinked. He hadn't even used a tenth of his real strength.
With a bored expression, he lightly kicked Kirishima's body back toward the center of the field and gave him a quick flick to the ear before turning his back to walk away. His steps were casual, unhurried, completely unfazed by the roar of the crowd now rising around him.
"The winner of the third round: Madara!!"
Present Mic's announcement shook the audience again, this time mixed with both excitement and dread. Some people clapped wildly, others whispered nervously. The crowd was beginning to realize something: Madara wasn't just strong.
He was something else entirely.
As Madara walked past the resting area, he slowed beside Yaoyorozu Momo and offered her a faint smile.
"You're up next. Give it your best."
Yaoyorozu nodded, lips curving into a confident smile. "Don't worry, I'll win."
Despite her words, there was something uneasy in her eyes. Like many others, she'd watched what had just happened. Madara didn't fight like a student—he fought like a warrior honed by war, battle, and survival.
Fourth Round: Yaoyorozu Momo vs Tokoyami Fumikage
The match began with cautious footwork. Yaoyorozu had spent the night planning for this fight, preparing multiple contingencies and gadget-based creations. But Tokoyami's Dark Shadow was a terrifying opponent, especially under the open sky where his Quirk was at full power.
Despite her best efforts, Yaoyorozu found herself overwhelmed, unable to match Tokoyami's aggressive, unpredictable attacks. The match ended with a decisive strike from Dark Shadow, sending Yaoyorozu off the platform.
"Winner: Tokoyami Fumikage!"
Fifth Round: Shiozaki vs Sero Hanta
A strange match. Shiozaki's vine-based Quirk was elegant and precise, while Sero's tape-launching style was chaotic and agile.
At first, the two seemed evenly matched. But Sero's speed and constant movement gradually gave him the upper hand. After a grueling twenty-minute contest filled with dodging, tangling, and aerial tricks, Sero secured the victory.
Sixth Round: Iida Tenya vs Hatsume Mei
This round was less of a match and more of an advertisement.
Hatsume Mei wasted no time showcasing dozens of her inventions, using Iida as a literal walking display. From rocket boots to shock-absorbing gloves, she used every tool she had on him.
Iida remained mostly still, flustered and increasingly annoyed, until she finally bowed out with a satisfied grin.
"Thanks for the promo time," she said cheerfully before walking off. Iida advanced by default.
Seventh Round: Uraraka Ochaco vs Bakugo Katsuki
A match many had quietly feared.
From the start, it was clear Bakugo wasn't holding back. His explosions tore through the stage, forcing Uraraka on the defensive. But she refused to go down easily. Dodging with agility and clever footwork, she kept Bakugo guessing longer than expected.
Though the outcome was inevitable—Bakugo stood victorious—Uraraka earned the crowd's respect with her courage and determination.
The Final Eight
The round of sixteen was over, and the next stage of the tournament was set. The final competitors were announced:
Midoriya Izuku
Madara
Tokoyami Fumikage
Sero Hanta
Iida Tenya
Bakugo Katsuki
Shoto Todoroki
The crowd roared as the screen lit up with the names of the top contenders. Each one had demonstrated something remarkable—power, strategy, or willpower.
But amidst them, only one figure stood out—Madara.
He hadn't just won.
He had dominated.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters have been uploaded on my Patreon, please do check it out, it will mean a lot to me
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