Sparks erupted from the soles of Bakugo's boots, propelling him forward with blistering speed. His muscles coiled, his hand drawn back and ready to strike. Another explosion roared from his palm, sending a wave of heat rippling through the air. The man's blazer flared, his body twisting at the last possible second—dodging the attack by mere inches.
"I almost—"
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the air. The man's fist connected with Bakugo's chest like a battering ram, crushing into him with bone-shattering force. His body crumpled inward, the impact sending him rocketing backward. He crashed into a nearby building, the wall exploding outward in a shower of bricks and debris.
Bakugo hit the ground with a painful thud, coughing violently, a thick stream of blood dripping down his chin and staining his lap. His vision swayed, blurred at the edges, his muscles twitching involuntarily from the sheer force of the blow.
"Crap—" he muttered, his trembling hand clutching at his ribs. A searing pain shot through his side, each shallow breath feeling like knives carving into his chest. "The fight with that Nomu ... still ..." His teeth clenched against the pain. "... hurts."
Sweat streamed from his hairline as he struggled back to his feet. His breathing was ragged, his entire body straining in protest. With a grunt, he launched himself again, channeling every ounce of energy left in his battered frame. The built-up sweat on his skin vaporized instantly, his speed intensifying, pushing his body faster. The wind howled past his ears, whipping his hair back as he closed the gap in an instant. With a guttural roar, he unleashed a concentrated explosion straight at the man's face.
"Did he get ... faster? " the man mused, a flicker of surprise flashing across his features. He leaned back just in time, the blast grazing his blazer and leaving a singed trail along his sleeve. Moving with unsettling grace, he cartwheeled backward twice, landing lightly on his feet as if nothing had happened.
Bakugo's chest heaved, his breaths ragged and uneven. His mind raced through every possibility. "He's faster, stronger ... but he's still dodging." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips despite the pain. "Finally he's on defense."
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, twisting midair and releasing a relentless barrage of explosions. The street buckled beneath the force, deep craters tearing through the cracked concrete. The searing heat distorted the air, warping everything around them.
The man danced between the blasts with ease, weaving through the falling debris and attacks. Bakugo's frustration burned hotter with each missed attack.
The cityscape had turned into a warzone—buildings marked with deep scorch marks, shattered glass littering the sidewalks, and massive chunks of concrete cluttered across the street. The streetlights flickered weakly, struggling to shine against the thick, choking smoke rising into the dark sky.
The man's boots scarred against the concrete as he shot himself forward to attack. Bakugo dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed at his ribs, but the man's speed was relentless. A split second later, a force struck him like a sledgehammer, sending him hurtling through the air again. He crashed through the side of a building, the brick wall exploding outward in a cloud of dust and debris. He groaned; he sat back with his head against a chunk of concrete, his mouth parted open, coughing out blood. His throat burned, the nerves in his legs twitching, sending his body into a small spasm. His shaking hand reached for his chest, clutching the tight fabric of his costume. His voice box was rough as he gasped, trying to control his breathing. The man tilted his head for a moment, unable to make sense of where Bakugo had landed. Bakugo gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet; he placed his hand on his knee and wobbly got to his feet.
"This guy is ..." He coughed hard, wiping his chin, blood smearing across his cheek, "He's good."
Bakugo staggered forward into the street, rolling his shoulders as pain throbbed through his body. His muscles screamed, his arms trembling from the strain of relentless fighting. He could feel his stamina slipping; his explosions weren't hitting as hard, his vision was blurring slightly, and every inhale of air scraped against his lungs.
The man emerged from the haze, his expression one of mild amusement. "You look tired," he taunted, stepping closer, his footfalls eerily silent against the broken pavement. "I think you've got something on your face." His finger swirled a circle in the air around his cheek, "Did you need to freshen up?"
"Shut the hell up." Bakugo spat blood onto the ground, wiping his mouth with the back of his trembling hand again. "And me tired? I haven't even started, you smug bastard."
With a fierce snarl, he surged forward, firing off a rapid succession of explosions, weaving them unpredictably, forcing the man to dodge again and again. Each blast sent tremors through the earth, pulverizing whatever was left of the surrounding buildings. Streetlights bent under the pressure, their bulbs shattering, plunging the area into a flickering darkness.
"He's dodging left," Bakugo noted, narrowing his eye, his chest swelling. "Always left."
The man's eyes widened, realizing a fraction of a second too late.
Bakugo's fist connected, the explosion detonating at point-blank range. The impact sent a deafening shockwave through the street, tearing through what remained of the buildings around them. The man's body flipped twice in the air before slamming into a concrete wall, embedding deep within the structure. The explosion detonated at point-blank range, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The force sent the man flying backward, his body flipped twice in the air before colliding with the side of a nearby building, leveling deep into the now crumbling concrete. The structure caved in under the impact before finally giving way, collapsing into a heap of rubble.
Bakugo landed hard, stumbling; he lost his footing and rolled twice before getting back onto his feet. He straightened out his back, his breath ragged. His vision fading, his arms feeling like dead weight at his sides, but he forced himself to stand tall. His entire body ached, muscles burning from overuse, but a savage grin tugged at his lips.
"Got my lick back," he muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion.
...
Authors note: My writing motivation has been so bad please forgive.
