"Die!" His right arm shot out at me. The Danger Sense allowed me to react with extreme sharpness, moving my body to the side.
"Don't dodge him!" Beside me, Shoto circled Muscular, sliding on his ice.
A blast was sent towards Muscular. He didn't hesitate to punch the incoming attack, shattering all the ice into small pieces.
(We just need to get him out. A flat area is enough.) I charged One For All in my body to 20% and sent a right punch at Muscular, straight to his face. As expected, he suffered no repercussions from it.
(My training area was in the southern part of the forest. We could lead him there.) Without giving up, Shoto sent another blast of ice, but this time lower, aimed at freezing the villain's feet.
"What kind of pathetic punch was that?!" His left arm was completely covered in muscle fibers, once again sending a blow towards me.
I placed my arms in an "X" shape and increased the power of One For All to 50% in them. Upon receiving the attack, I was dragged several meters back, but there was no pain behind it.
(I barely felt his punch. He's holding back, either because he's too confident or he's evaluating our level to enjoy this fight more. No matter the reason, it's beneficial for me in both cases.) Muscular's legs were covered in ice, but he swatted it away and destroyed it, focusing his full attention on Shoto.
(One For All, Full Cowling 50%!) Taking advantage of his different focus, I approached quickly, kicking his head and causing him to crash heavily into some trees.
"Good kick." Todoroki's fire lit up slightly to remove the frost that had already formed on his left side. "My ice isn't being very useful if I don't catch him completely. Do you think you can use your Whips to hold him?"
"Maybe... can you buy me time to accumulate kinetic energy?"
"...I can try..."
"Alright, let's try your strategy first."
"I'm still conscious, brats!" Recovered from my light blow, Muscular attacked again with both arms open.
"We know, you fourth-rate psychopath!" Shoto and I moved in opposite directions, trying to surround him somehow.
(In the manga, Izuku was able to defeat Muscular easily and efficiently. He used a really powerful combination of the multiple Quirks he had at that time.) I tried to restrain his limbs with the Blackwhips, but they were avoided by the deceptive speed of our enemy.
"Stay still." With a falsely deceptive neutrality, Shoto fired a wave of fire, burning trees in the process.
Of course, this didn't pose a challenge to Muscular's colossal strength, who with great ease clapped with enough power to extinguish the fire.
Shoto didn't give up at that obstacle, trying again with the attack and getting the same result.
Muscular laughed ecstatically at the clear display of superiority he had over us, slowly starting to approach.
His steps were confident and sure, as if it were a game for him.
Too bad it was anything but that.
"You're too weak! You can't entertain me!" An Air Force to his fake eye was what he received from me after that response.
"Son of a bitch!" He held the place where he was hit in anger.
"You talk a lot for how little importance you have." During the whole time Todoroki was shooting fire, I was storing kinetic energy. It was a quick procedure once you mastered the concept. "Now, why don't you go bother someone else?" With 50% of One For All combined with the previous accumulation of energy, I was able to get in front of him in an instant.
My abrupt increase in speed took him by surprise. The ground behind me cracked from my footsteps.
(This is impressive. The amount of power stored is unreal, and I'm making a conscious effort not to cause major damage.) As quickly as my surprise came, I forgot it. I returned my gaze to the enemy and performed my attack. "St. Louis SMASH!" My kick connected with his chest. The released energy caused Muscular to start crashing through trees as if he were a rag doll.
I fell to my knees. The leg I used for the attack wouldn't stop trembling.
"It's like I have a cramp," I mentioned my comparison aloud. Shoto, seeing that our enemy was out of range, sent ice around us to put out the generated fire.
He quickly approached me, helping me to my feet.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a small cramp in my foot. Give me a moment." I felt my leg return to normal, being able to support myself on the ground without problems. "I can walk on my own now, thanks."
"Don't thank me." Letting go of me, he looked towards the forest. "We didn't defeat him with that," he added as an obvious statement, looking at me to corroborate his words.
"Of course not, but one more hit like that will be enough." One For All began to flow through my body again. "This time, I'm not going to limit the energy output. I'll use 60%."
"You'll need an opening to hit him like a moment ago, right?" A nod was all he received from me.
"I'll go ahead and face him until you arrive. In the meantime, try to put out as much fire as you can along the way." I flexed my legs, preparing to look for Muscular. "We're not the only ones in this forest, and your left side will be useful, though that's no excuse to take too long."
I didn't wait for a response from him, starting to run towards where the trail of destroyed trees led me.
The blow he received was really powerful. He had covered a good distance, and I still hadn't reached the final collision site.
(I underestimated your power again, partner.) One For All made a vague gesture of amusement, more focused on keeping the released energy stable. (Muscular isn't invincible. We were limiting our abilities and could put up a fight. My worries were partly unfounded.) I stopped abruptly, seeing the large crater from which the villain was emerging.
We were in the lower area of the mountain where Kota has his base. The trees surrounded us like a half-finished dome; the missing part was pure rock.
Reaching the foot of the mountain... is a long distance.
(This only proves what I already know.) I began to perform repetitive movements, making use of Fa Jin. (I must reach 100% of One For All soon.) Muscular finished emerging from the rubble, his entire body covered in muscle fibers.
"That punch hurt a lot! If I hadn't used my Quirk at full power, I wouldn't be alive!" My eyebrows furrowed in thought. It would have been a very big problem if this man had died, too many unstipulated variables that I don't want to be responsible for. "Now, kid, give me the fight I deserve!"
"If that's what you want..." I increased the percentage of power in my arms and legs. 65% is not completely refined, and it can be seen in the random flashes. "Although it may not seem like it, I have a certain respect for villains. Not everyone can be one... but you're just doing this for fun."
"What are you getting at?! Are you judging my way of life?!" His size increased. It seems I'm touching a sensitive nerve.
"What I'm trying to say is... that unlike the rest, I will openly enjoy your defeat at my hands." Without giving him a space to respond, I appeared beside him in a flash. A kick was what he got on his left arm. (The force behind a kick is naturally stronger than a punch.) His muscle fibers contracted at the sudden damage, but he stood firm in his place.
"Ha! A lot of words for someone who's openly holding back!" With his feet, he performed a sweep, making me fall and hitting me in the air, causing me to crash heavily into the ground.
In a moment of reaction, One For All acted on its own, shooting two Blackwhips with which it stopped my momentum.
(Thanks for that.) I launched myself at Muscular again, beginning a series of blows all over his body. (I must accumulate kinetic energy in my legs. A single well-placed attack like the previous one is all I need.) A left punch was sent towards me, forcing me to jump back to avoid it.
"It's not fun if your punches are limited. Why don't you fight with everything you have?" He was honestly curious with that question. Even his posture loosened a bit.
I just need a little more time, and I'll have charged the necessary kinetic energy...
I wiped the small trickle of blood that was coming from my mouth and replied:
"Have you never tested your opponent? You measure your punches to get a clear idea of their level." I vaguely created an excuse, trying not to show the lack of air I was feeling. (I can't tell him I'm buying time, or worse, that I'm at my bearable limit.) A memory came to my head, the moment when Izuku broke his arm to defeat him. (No, forget that idea. Such an extreme resource is not necessary yet.) I took a deep breath...
And I launched myself into combat again. I sent a right hook to his face, but Muscular caught my arm instantly and began to exert pressure on it.
"Measure your rival? What's the use if in the end you die?" Not wanting to injure my arm, I sent a kick to his face. Part of the accumulated kinetic energy was released with that attack, but it was enough to make him retreat several meters this time.
(I'm not flexing my leg like that again.) A grunt of pain escaped my mouth at the crack my right foot made. (I'm flexible, but not that much.) Muscular didn't wait for my recovery, running quickly to try to kick me.
"You're not the only one who can kick!" His right leg filled with muscle fibers, trying to hit me with it and only being avoided by my quick reaction by tilting my head.
(The danger sense is going crazy!) A series of attacks followed after that, trying but failing to hurt me. (I need to go on the offensive.) I jumped back to then shoot a Blackwhip between Muscular's legs, propelling my body with it and managing to drag myself through the free space. (Perfect.) A right hook to his face was enough to leave him slightly disoriented.
He staggered a bit before regaining his balance, time that I didn't waste to spin on my own axis and give him an upward kick to the chin, sending his body into the sky.
Not wanting him to recover in the air, I shot two Blackwhips with which I made him descend brutally to the ground.
"Heh... that strategy never fails." From between the generated smoke screen, Muscular emerged again, furious and trying to connect a right punch.
"One..." I tilted my body slightly to avoid it. This time he repeated the attempt but with his left arm. "Two..." I mimicked my previous action but to the opposite side. "And... three!" Already being close enough, I gave him a punch right in the face, causing the crack of his nose breaking.
"Y-you...!" Another punch was what he got, and another one followed that.
"Stop!" With the Whips, I stopped his retreat, being able to continue with my attacks without stopping.
"ENOUGH!" A familiar sound caught my attention behind me.
"If that's what you want... that's what you'll get." I did a backflip. The ice passed where I was a moment ago, completely covering Muscular.
When I landed on the ground, Shoto was already by my side, somewhat tired from the excessive use of his Quirk to put out the generated fires.
"Sorry for the delay," he commented between tired breaths. I just gave him a thumbs up in response. "It's now or never. Don't waste time here."
"Of course." I released all the kinetic energy I had accumulated in my legs, positioning myself once more in front of Muscular. "Pseudo 100% St. Louis SMASH!" The kick connected with the center of his face. A shockwave followed, along with Muscular's body being sent flying towards the mountain.
The generated wind pressure uprooted several trees. Shoto had to generate an ice wall behind him to avoid being dragged by it.
Muscular's battered body fell limply to the ground, returning to its normal state and with a face deformed to the limit.
I fell to one knee, stunned by the power demonstrated in a single kick.
"Izuku... that was brutal..."
"Huh?..." I looked at Shoto with curiosity, only to start laughing a moment later. "Don't say... bullshit, Shoto..."
We stayed there, waiting for the villain to magically get up and attack us again, but nothing happened.
We had really won.
(Only the Nomu and All Might have forced me to the limit.) With some effort on my part, I stood up, looking at the mountain. (Is Kota still up there? I should go check. I need to ensure his safety.) Careful not to exceed my exhausted body, I regulated the power of One For All to 20%. (Thanks for fighting by my side, by the way. You're awesome.) A great calm flooded my body, being its way of saying, "Anytime."
"We have to go with the others, Izuku. There must be more villains like him," Shoto stood beside me, observing where there was still fire. "I can help against whoever is generating all that fire."
"In fact, we have to do just that, but..." With my hand, I pointed the way up the mountain. "We have to look for Kota, the boy who was with the PussyCats."
"Wouldn't he be safer up there?"
"Attention everyone, this is Mandalay. I've managed to communicate with you through my Quirk. As you know, we are under attack. I need you to return to the central base urgently... and if you find my nephew Kota, have him return to your side, please." Mandalay's worried and tired voice sounded in our heads. She had most likely just fought against Spinner. "Kota, if you're hearing this, be very careful."
"How do you know the boy is on the mountain?" Shoto asked, seeing the change in the situation.
"One day, I followed him to bring him food, and I saw him go up here." It was a lie, but there was no time to lose. "I'll go look for him, but if you wish, you can go and help the rest."
"That seems the most sensible thing to do." We were silent for a moment, assimilating the situation we were in.
The calm in the air was like a bad sign.
A warning that at any moment, if we let our guard down, everything could go even more to hell.
"I'll catch up with you as fast as I can," I offered my fist to Shoto, waiting for him to return the gesture. "Be careful."
"I should be the one telling you that. You have a magnet for trouble." He bumped his fist.
"Heh... the protagonist's curse, I guess," I whispered to myself.
Without a second glance or dramatic farewells, I disappeared in a flash, starting to quickly climb the mountain.
Shoto, for his part, trapped Muscular with his ice, leaving him frozen up to his neck.
My body was slowly but surely recovering from the previous fatigue.
(Muscular took us by surprise.) Sending two Blackwhips, I used them as a slingshot, climbing several meters in a single pull. (I wonder... what other surprises are left for me to find along the way?) Above my head, the moon shone brightly.
...
Author's Note:
Hey.
What did you think of the chapter?
Well, I wanted the battle with Muscular to cover the whole chapter because he's one of the few villains who can currently put up a fight against the protagonist.
And yes, I know the fight could have been reduced to practically nothing, but would it have been interesting to read if that were the case?
I'm not looking to nerf the protagonist, but I won't reduce every combat to a misery of two hits and that's it. I want to improve my narration of battles, and extending them from time to time is a great help.
Besides, it's the longest combat I've written, being a total of 2500 words.
The next chapter will cover the last stretch of the camp attack. I'll try to publish it soon.
Take care, see you.