I'm better.

Little hero.

His glare sharpened, his voice dropping to something dangerously low. "What the hell's going on in that building?" His eyes burned with fury. "You must know about her."

The man's eyes lit up at the mention, his hands clasping together in mock delight. "Ah, the lovely cursed moon god," he cooed, bringing his fingers to his lips as if savoring the thought. "Oh, how I adore watching her kill. It's quite thrilling, really." His voice turned breathy, filled with a sick admiration. "Her bloodlust might even be stronger than my master's." He shivered, rubbing his arms, his entire body thrumming with a twisted excitement. "And she's quite the woman, too."

Bakugo's breath caught, and for a split second, his mind blanked. Then, like wildfire, jealousy and rage intertwined and burned through him, sending a violent shiver up his spine. His lips curled into a snarl, his body tensing like a coiled spring. "Quite the woman, huh?" He tilted his head down slightly, his eyes shadowed beneath his furrowed brows. His voice came out low and deadly. "I could kill you for that."

His hands slipped behind his back in a deceptively relaxed posture, but his muscles twitched with barely restrained fury. His palms tingled with the familiar itch of an explosion waiting to be unleashed. Bakugo didn't waste another second. He lunged forward, his palms exploding with a deafening, BOOM that shattered the pavement beneath him. The blast propelled him straight at the man, his arm cocked back, ready to land a direct hit.

But in the blink of an eye, the man was gone.

"What the—"

A blur appeared in his peripheral vision. Bakugo barely had time to react before a crushing force struck his side, sending him careening into a nearby streetlight with a violent crash. He hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop with a grunt. Pain flared through his ribs, but he gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, shaking off the ringing in his ears.

The man stood where Bakugo had been just a moment ago, dusting off his sleeves as if nothing had happened. His expression remained eerily amused. "You're fast," he mused, tilting his head. "But not fast enough."

Bakugo wiped the blood from his lip, narrowing his eyes; his teeth clenched in anger. "He's holding back..."

Snarling, he blasted forward again, zigzagging to throw him off. He aimed low, trying to catch him off guard with a sweeping explosion aimed at his legs. The flames roared to life—but the man simply stepped aside with an effortless grace, evading the blast like he was taking a casual stroll.

"Predictable," the man scoffed smoothly before flicking his wrist.

Before Bakugo could process it, an unseen force slammed into him, knocking him backward again. His feet skidded against the concrete, but he managed to stay upright this time, panting as his heart pounded in his chest. "What the hell was that? "

He clenched his fists tightly, sweat trickling down his temple. He could feel the burn in his muscles, the strain in his chest. This guy wasn't just fast—he was precise. Calculated. Every move was fluid, as if he was reading Bakugo's attacks before they even happened.

"Crap—"

Bakugo tried again, launching himself into the air, detonating a series of rapid-fire explosions to disorient him. The blasts lit up the night, deafening and relentless—but with each one, the man simply dodged, weaving through them with an almost lazy elegance.

And then he was behind him.

Bakugo barely turned in time before a hand gripped his wrist like a vice, yanking him down and slamming him into the asphalt with brutal force. He let out a strangled gasp, the impact rattling his bones.

He coughed, his vision swimming. The man loomed over him, his shadow long and unyielding under the streetlights. "You fight with your heart on your sleeve," he murmured, crouching down just enough for Bakugo to see the wicked glint in his eyes. "Such a pathetic showing, really."

Bakugo's pulse hammered in his ears. "I haven't even hit him. Haven't even touched him once." His fists trembled against the ground. "Crap ... how am I supposed to get her back ... I can't win like this ..."

"A word of advice from your senior," the man continued, standing back to his full height. "If this is how you intend to defeat me—" He chuckled to himself, "you'll never save your precious Tsuki-chan." His smirk deepened. "And you don't have much time; the clouds are set to spread in a few hours."

Bakugo's blood boiled. "SHUT UP!" He forced himself up, ignoring the searing pain, and launched another explosion right in the man's face.

Smoke engulfed the area, debris scattering everywhere. Bakugo staggered to his feet, panting, waiting to see if it had worked. But as the smoke cleared, the man stood there—completely unharmed, his smile never fading.

Bakugo's eyes widened. "I can't ..." His breaths were ragged.

The man took a step forward. "Come on, little hero," he taunted. "Let us dance together until we're dripped in moonlight!"

Bakugo gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. His mind raced through every possible move, every strategy—but no matter what he thought of, the sinking feeling in his chest only grew heavier.

...