Chapter 52: Round 2

A/N: Hey guys, Bronz here. And I have some big news about the Chaos Gacha. Since I noticed that a lot of people seem to have trouble downloading it whether that be due to malfunctioning antiviruses etc. I have decided to release the Chaos Gacha Web Version!

The Chaos Gacha is now also a Website, it may have some problems since it is the first version but it works. The downloadable version will still get updated as you cannot access the gacha list files on the web app so you cannot add your own. But still, the Webapp is much easier and more convenient to use and can even be used on mobile.

So, go check it out at: https://chaosgachaweb.onrender.com/

~Kotaro Hakari~

I felt the roar of flames fill my ears as my heartbeat quickened, this was what I was looking for. This was a fight worth having. I was not facing some boy with extreme daddy issues, I was facing an actual hero to be. Someone who would be one of the greatest heroes in the future.

Not willing to be outdone I pulled on my own flames against his and saw that mine were definitely not as strong nor did they have the volume to match his. In front of my eyes was a prodigy who trained, talent who met hard work. Of course my ability that I barely trained for a month would struggle to match it.

"Hey, Hakari... what the hell were you thinking? Who in their right mind tries to make their opponent stronger? I hope you don't regret it. Because right now, I will beat you and show you and I will be a hero!"

His flames intensified even further and the glint of determination in his eyes held true, but I smiled anyway. I was no battle maniac but when the opportunity comes I can't help myself. I wanted to measure myself against an equal.

"What was I thinking? I think you better shut your mouth and run those hands Todoroki!"

The ground beneath my feet cracked and I pushed myself off of the arena, breaking the speed of sound twice over as I charged at Shoto who, without the frostbite slowing him down was able to respond to me, sending a titanic-sized glacier my way without worry about backlash.

In my path appeared several thousand tons of ice but in response, my hands got covered by powerful cyan flames channelled through my fists with Enflame. I lashed out with a powerful punch that shattered the iceberg in my way, only to be met with a wall of fire that could melt steel launching me back before getting slammed by another iceberg, but with my godly reflexes, there was no way for him to hit me before I turned on Defensive Form and easily tanked it with its synergy with Exoskeleton.

But at the same time, I couldn't just win this with the regular way, his reflexes and tactical mind were good and he had energy reserves that dwarfed mine, I could only rely on a blitzkrieg method.

'Polar Channel Flow - Cellular Overdrive'

The sound of my heartbeat drowned out the noise of the flames that Todoroki wielded as I sent a giant fist of Frostflare at Todoroki who countered with a beam of fire that clashed with the giant fist of freezing flame, sending a mix of boiling and freezing mist flying everywhere.

All the while my body got more dinosaur-like, growing to over 2 meters tall as I charged, simply shoulder crashing the ice in my way, but before I reached Todoroki he lifted himself up by turning the arena into an iceberg and blasted me with fire.

I felt my skin burn, my breath get hot. The flames were intense, enough to burn stone let alone human flesh.

But I was no mere human!

"That's not enough!"

Without thinking I roared out as Frostflare burst from my body, devouring his flames, with Polar Channel Flow - Cellular Overdrive active my flames were stronger even if they couldn't match his quantity. I crouched and jumped up toward Todoroki at supersonic speeds but he seemed to catch my approach, blasting me with flame but I powered through even though I felt my fingers char and the unbearable pain fill my body.

I leapt forward, pushing off the air with Frostflare and pouncing on where he was just moments prior after he jumped off and backflipped, landing back on the decimated arena and blasting with another wave of fire that I felt cook my insides. I was going to be pushed out of bounds with the wave of fire. OR I WOULD HAVE!

I slotted Blink in place of Exoskeleton mid-air and teleported down to arena grounds, we were back in our starting positions, Shoto and I facing each other at the farthest ends of the arena. I could see him sweating heavily but a smile hung on his face without thinking.

"You really are a monster Hakari."

Shoto breathed out heavily but I could see his flames were as hot as ever. I wasn't faring too well, 2nd-degree burns all over and some 3rd-degree ones in the hand area, and the upper half of my exoskeleton was completely blown off.

"You're not bad yourself Todoroki. I thought you were a boring man but you are quickly proving me wrong."

Our eyes met and imaginary lightning struck, a competitive smile hanging on both our lips. Even though we were both so different it felt like we both connected for a moment.

I want to compare my power with him.

"Let's see who has the higher firepower here!"

Absurd amounts of flame collected on my fist as I faced Shoto who wore a look almost mimicking my own as he summoned as much ice and fire he possibly could, aiming to create a steam explosion, that, if it weren't for the barriers protecting the audience would have levelled the entire city block were in.

Nothing less than the best of my best would cut it for this. So let's kick it up another notch!

"Polar Channel Flow - Cellular Overdrive STACK!"

My vision went red as the blood vessels in my eyes ruptured. I poured all of my energy into this one Frostflare Fist boosted by Offensive Form.

Shoto released his steam explosion towards me while I swung.

"JÖTUNN'S FIST!!!"

And threw out a building-sized fist of freezing fire colder than the winds of the Arctic.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

A gigantic explosion happened as the steam explosion of the fist collided and I immediately switched to Defensive Form to stay on my feet and withstand the shockwave that felt like a truck crash. But feeling it I was elated.

Because the wave of power I was hit by was not hot but cold.

I dug my taloned feet into the ground to remain standing, and turned off Cellular Overdrive before quickly slotting in Regeneration and Chlorophyll, then finally noticing what had happened.

The entire arena and middle of the stadium was demolished and instead was covered in ice in the shape of fire, as it all had frozen over, hell, it was snowing. And on the other side of the battlefield, was Shoto Todoroki.

Whose back was slumped up against the wall, barely clinging to consciousness.

Even I had barely endured the shockwave after all with Defensive Form, no way he could have stopped himself from ringing out.

My eyes turned to Midnight who was shivering looking at us both with misty breath. In fact, I saw the entire audience shivering from the cold. I had really hit hard. I better had, that was 2 Elite, an epic and a rare ability working in tandem with suicide boost to create a masterpiece. Hell, I am confident I could have killed Nomu with that fist.

Midnight finally snapped out of the cold and looked between us both before snapping her whip and declaring.

"S-Shoto Todoroki is out! Hakari Kotaro wins!"

I smiled at the crowd snapping out of their daze and cheering for me. The applause felt nice, and it kept me from throwing up the handful of blood in my mouth. Midnight approached me rather hastily, jumping from her stand and onto the frozen platform, extending her mic to me.

"What a spectacular performance Hakari-kun! Any words you want to add?"

It felt like my body was made of lead as I tried to stand up, my brain felt scrambled, probably because it was from Cellular Overdrive. Though I probably did not look like it for now due to my regeneration working from outside in.

I looked at Midnight.

"Merdic."

Midnight raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think I have heard you correctly Hakari-kun, what did you say?"

I tried to talk but-

"Blurgh."

Only a puddle of blood came out of my mouth instead.

And then my nose.

And then my eyes.

Oh man-

I blacked out.

"Hakari-kun!?!?"

⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀

~Kotaro Hakari~

"Urgh, my fucking head. How long was I out? -OW!"

I opened my eyes just to see a cane coming down on my forehead full force, and since I didn't have any abilities active it actually hurt pretty bad. I rubbed my sore head to see Recovery Girl looking at me with a wrathful visage that sent shivers down my spine.

Oh, I think I get it now.

I raised my hands up in panic, trying to placate the furious medic.

"Wait! I can explain-! -Ow! Ow! Ow!"

My pleas to make a case for myself were met with ruthless refusal as she rained down blows on me, let me tell you, despite her small frame, granny packed one hell of a punch.

"Explain what boy? Explain why I find you half-dead on my infirmary bed every other day? Why I have to deal with you spilling all of your blood all over my sheets every week? Are you going to explain that!?"

I desparately tried to defend myself from the onslaught of cane strikes given to me by the recovery girl before she tired herself out and landed one last blow on my head that definitely left a bruise. She harrumphed and turned around.

"Boy, you are lucky you are harder to kill than a cockroach and recover unnaturally fast. But I swear if you leave this room before you have recovered I smack you so hard you will be staying here for another week."

I nodded but before she left she turned to me again with a softer expression.

"Also, you have a visitor. I know it's not in my place to say this, but thanks for helping the poor boy."

I didn't get what she meant before she left and another person knocked and entered, to my surprise it was Todoroki himself who looked apologetic. He walked over to my bed and bowed his head, I could see that he was visibly roughed up a little too, but not nearly as much as me.

"Hey... Hakari-kun, I wanted to apologize for overusing force and wanted to... thank you for helping me, even if I still feel conflicted I felt like I had to at leas come and apologize."

Huh, I really did not expect this level of courtesy or humbleness from Mister better than you but I guess getting your ass handed to you really humbles you. Still, I couldn't but grin at him.

"Apologize for what? From what I see, I was the one who was declared the victor." Minus the fact that I was the one who got hospitalised instead of him. "Plus, if you held back I was going to be the one visiting you in the ICU instead. And unlike me, you do not have regeneration."

Todoroki looked awkward but slightly relieved as he scratched his cheek.

"Still, I felt like I should at least thank you for going out of your way to help me despite how I treated you. Is there anything I could do?"

Was this rivalry at work? He was definitely friendlier but I also feel like this is also his personality of not wanting debts at work. Still, this was a far bigger improvement compared to the hardass we were before the match.

I leaned back and shook my head.

"Nah, it's just what classmates do for each other and what a hero should be. If you really want to repay just buy me ramen sometime and maybe spar with later. Alright?"

I extended a fist towards Shoto who looked at it with an uneasy expression, I had decided that he was good Bro material, he hadn't realized his bro potential yet but I could do with it.

He finally sighed and quirked a small, almost indiscernible smile before bumping my fist.

"Yeah, I'll do that. For the last time, thank you Hakari-kun. Now, I should leave you to rest." Saying that he turned around and walked out, but when he pulled the door open he had an almost haunted look on his face before quickly walking away, making me wonder what the hell his deal was before two other people entered the room.

"Hey hey~ Hakari-kun~ Your personal nurses are here to tend to your emotional injuries~"

"Huh?"

Because the people who entered my room were Toga and Mina, Toga holding a smug aroused expression while Mina held a mollified blush as she looked away from me.

Oh, and they were both wearing sexy nurse outfits.

...So this was the reward Toga mentioned.

A/N: And the Shoto vs Hakari fight is over, as always Hakari goes for his patented "Fuck it, I'm ending up in the hospital move", I hope you guys liked how the fight went. Shoto is shaping up to be a decent bro material after Izuku, not quite there but Hakari has teaching mastery for a reason.

I feel like the biggest ship in this one is Hakari x Hospital Bed with how often he ends up there, at least once every arc. But thankfully for him, a pair of sexy nurses are there to attend to him while he rests. As for how they do that, we will find out next chapter. What did you guys think about the fight overall? I would love to know.

_______________________________

If you like my works and want to support me and my works you can do so at my P*treon at: p*treon.com/BronzDeck. You can also read up to 10 chapters ahead on all of my works there and participate in story polls.

Just replace the * with an a.