Chapter 14: The Crimson Gambit

**Chapter 14: The Crimson Gambit**

The moment Cementoss's voice echoed through the stadium, Bakugo Katsuki lunged forward like a predator unleashed, his palms already crackling with explosive energy. His crimson eyes burned with fury, his teeth bared in a feral grin. "You're dead, copycat!" he roared, his voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. But as he closed the distance, something unexpected happened.

Monoma Neito stood his ground, his smirk widening as his eyes—usually a calm blue—flashed a deep, ominous crimson. The glow was brief, but it was enough to send a ripple of unease through the crowd. Yamada Hizashi, ever the showman, immediately seized on the moment. "WHOAAAA! Did you see that, folks? Monoma's eyes just lit up like a villain's from some dark anime! What's he planning?!"

Bakugo didn't care. He thrust his hand forward, ready to unleash a devastating explosion, but… nothing happened. His palm sparked weakly, fizzling out like a damp firework. His eyes widened in shock, his momentum faltering as he skidded to a halt. "What the—?!" he snarled, staring at his hand in disbelief.

Monoma didn't waste the opportunity. With a fluid motion, he pivoted on his heel and delivered a sharp, precise kick to Bakugo's face. The impact was brutal, sending Bakugo staggering backward, a trickle of blood dripping from his nose. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers, the sound deafening as the stadium shook with their excitement.

"OHHHHHH! MONOMA WITH A CLEAN HIT TO BAKUGO'S FACE!" Yamada screamed into the microphone, his voice trembling with excitement. "What just happened?! Bakugo's quirk didn't activate! Is this Monoma's doing?!"

In the commentator's booth, Aizawa Shota leaned forward, his bandaged face betraying a flicker of interest. He took a slow sip of apple juice before speaking, his voice calm but laced with amusement. "Monoma's Copy quirk allows him to replicate other quirks for a limited time. But he's not just copying quirks—he's using them strategically. He must have copied *my* Erasure quirk the moment the match started. That's why Bakugo's explosions aren't working."

Yamada's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, wait! Are you saying Monoma planned this from the start? That's why he sent us the apple juice? To get close enough to copy your quirk?!"

Aizawa nodded, a rare smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Exactly. That kid's always thinking three steps ahead. He's not just a copycat—he's a tactician."

The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. In the stands, Midoriya Izuku's eyes widened as he scribbled furiously in his notebook. "Monoma copied Erasure?! That's genius! He's neutralizing Bakugo's quirk completely!" Uraraka Ochaco clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's not fair to use a teacher's ability.. Go, Bakugo! You can do it!"

Iida Tenya adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "This is a bold move, but Bakugo isn't someone who'll go down easily. Even without his quirk, he's a formidable opponent."

On the battlefield, Bakugo wiped the blood from his nose, his expression twisting into a mask of pure rage. "You… you damn copycat!" he spat, his voice trembling with fury. "You think you can beat me in a fistfight?! I'll crush you!"

Monoma chuckled, his crimson eyes gleaming with confidence. "Oh, Bakugo. You're so predictable. All power, no strategy. Let's see how you handle this."

The two clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks, their movements a blur of speed and precision. Bakugo's raw strength and aggression were undeniable, but Monoma's agility and tactical mind kept him one step ahead. The crowd roared with every blow, their cheers and gasps echoing through the stadium.

In the Class 1-B stands, Itsuka Kendo watched with a mixture of pride and anxiety. "Monoma, you idiot… You're really going all out, huh?" she muttered, her fists clenched. Beside her, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu grinned, his metallic body gleaming. "That's our guy! Show that Class 1-A punk what we're made of!"

Ibara Shiozaki clasped her hands in prayer, her vine-like hair swaying gently. "Maybe he really can do it..." she murmured. Meanwhile, Kaminari Denki leaned forward, his eyes wide. "Dude, this boy, Monoma's actually holding his own! This is insane!"

Back in the arena, the fight grew more intense. Bakugo's frustration boiled over as he landed a solid punch to Monoma's ribs, sending him stumbling backward. Monoma coughed, blood trickling from his nose, but his smirk never wavered. "Is that all you've got, Bakugo?" he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Bakugo roared, charging forward with a flurry of punches. Monoma dodged and weaved, his movements growing slower as fatigue set in. The crowd began to murmur, some calling for Monoma to surrender. "He's taking too much damage!" someone shouted. "He's going to get himself killed!"

But Monoma wasn't done yet. As Bakugo cornered him against the edge of the arena, Monoma's crimson eyes flickered and faded, returning to their normal blue. Bakugo noticed immediately, his grin widening. "What's wrong, copycat? Out of tricks?!"

Bakugo threw a punch that could have knocked Monoma out of the arena, but the latter dodged a crouch to leave Bakugo the one in the corner.

Monoma's expression turned deadly serious. "Not quite," he said, his voice low. In one swift motion, he placed his hand on Bakugo's chest, his palm glowing with a familiar, explosive energy. Bakugo's eyes widened in shock. "You—!"

"BOOM!" Monoma unleashed a massive explosion, the force of it sending Bakugo flying out of the arena. The crowd erupted in a deafening roar as Bakugo hit the ground outside the boundary line, his body skidding to a halt.

Yamada's voice was a high-pitched scream of excitement. "UNBELIEVABLE! MONOMA JUST USED BAKUGO'S OWN QUIRK AGAINST HIM! WHAT A TWIST! WHAT A FINISH!"

Aizawa leaned back in his chair, a rare smile on his face. "That's Monoma for you. Always full of surprises."

In the stands, Midoriya's jaw dropped. "He… he copied Bakugo's quirk at the last second?! That's incredible!" Uraraka jumped to her feet, cheering wildly. "Monoma won! He actually won!"

Bakugo, lying on the ground outside the arena, roared in frustration, his fists slamming into the dirt. "YOU DAMN COPYCAT! I'LL KILL YOU!" He tried to charge back into the arena, but Midnight stepped in, her whip cracking in the air. "That's enough, Bakugo! The match is over!"

Monoma stood in the center of the arena, breathing heavily but victorious. His face was bruised and bloodied, but his smirk was as sharp as ever. "Well, Bakugo," he said, his voice carrying across the silent stadium. "Looks like strategy beats brute force after all."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the sound shaking the very foundations of the stadium. Yamada's voice boomed over the noise. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE OUR WINNER! MONOMA NEITO TAKES THE FIRST MATCH OF THE FINAL STAGE! WHAT A PERFORMANCE! WHAT A SHOW!"

As the dust settled and the cheers continued, Monoma raised a hand in acknowledgment, his eyes gleaming with triumph. The final stage had only just begun, but one thing was clear: Monoma Neito was a force to be reckoned with.

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