"Damn... damn it!!"
The principal was right. Kaminari Denki hadn't suffered any major injuries—just pain. Yes, just pain. It hurt—hurt a lot—but there were no internal injuries or severe external wounds.
But... but the feeling of being picked up and smashed into the ground was absolutely unbearable!
Shame.
Humiliation.
Rage.
These complicated emotions exploded inside Kaminari.
"Crackle!"
"Zzzzt-crackle, crackle!"
Fueled by his anger, Kaminari unleashed two million volts of electricity, striking All Might with a vicious burst of corona discharge. At the same time, dark golden lightning, like twin blades of 'Raikiri,' crackled in his palms as he slashed toward All Might's waist without hesitation.
"Let me go!!!"
In that moment, Kaminari didn't care about the exam anymore only about retaliating.
"Hmph!"
All Might grunted, pain shooting through him as two million volts coursed through his body. His waist, already a weak point, throbbed intensely. His face twisted in discomfort, and his battle suit began to heat and redden under the strain.
The buzzing crackle of Kaminari's 'Raikiri' intensified, surging toward the injured waist. All Might's eyes sharpened immediately.
While he could handle Kaminari's Raikiri with ease under normal circumstances, taking a direct hit to his injured waist was out of the question.
Without hesitation, All Might released Kaminari's wrist, then delivered a sharp kick to his chest.
"BOOM!!!"
Kaminari's body hurtled backward. Fortunately, a layer of golden sand formed beneath him, cushioning the impact.
"So… it takes two million volts to make him feel pain? And he's not completely immune to Raikiri… it's just that my speed's too slow to hit him!"
Despite the rage still coursing through his veins, Kaminari's mind raced to analyze the battle.
All Might… isn't invincible. He just outclasses me… right now.
He checked his current electricity reserves and smiled bitterly.
"Less than a million volts left. Great."
Even with his battle suit continually recharging his energy, this battle's intensity far exceeded its recovery speed.
"Guess I'll have to run."
Whispering into his suit, he commanded: "'Pikachu,' cover me with golden sand and then…"
All Might, still holding his waist, narrowed his eyes as he saw the golden sand swirling around Kaminari.
"Hiding again, Kaminari boy? Haven't I warned you about relying too much on these tools?"
But then—
His expression changed. The golden sand didn't just form a shield. Instead, it separated into dozens of identical Cancer's Golden Cloth forms, scattering in every direction!
From behind, they all looked identical. None showed the signature electric aura of Kaminari's High-Voltage Mode because he had canceled it entirely.
Without his signature electric field, distinguishing the real Kaminari from the fakes became nearly impossible.
And truthfully, with less than one million volts left, keeping High-Voltage Mode active was no longer an option.
"If this can buy me even a few seconds to recharge… I might have a chance."
As he dashed away amidst the golden clones, Kaminari couldn't help but think of Todoroki.
"He should be near the gate by now, right?"
Even though less than four minutes had passed since they'd separated.
"Hmph. Childish tricks."
All Might chuckled, watching the golden-armored clones scatter.
If each one moved at the speed of Kaminari's High-Voltage Mode, he might have had trouble.
But at regular running speed?
Far too slow.
"I don't even need to chase them."
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, All Might took a deep breath and then swung his arms outward with terrifying force.
"Carolina SMASH!!!"
Whoosh!
The resulting shockwave morphed into a massive cross-shaped hurricane, sweeping across the field in every direction.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The clones shattered into clouds of sand, one after another, scattering in the wind.
In seconds, only one figure remained Kaminari, lying on the ground.
"Tap. Tap. Tap."
All Might's footsteps grew louder as he approached.
Hearing those footsteps, Kaminari clenched his fists, his expression dark with desperation.
"How is someone this strong even real?!"
All Might stopped directly in front of him. Kaminari forced himself to stand up wobbly, but defiant.
"It seems you finally understand."
"Understand what?"
"That you're still too weak and that relying on tools like these won't change that."
"Tch."
Kaminari clenched his jaw. Weak? Sure, compared to All Might, everyone was weak.
"Teacher All Might, I may be weak… but don't forget—it was me, with my weak power and these 'unreliable tools,' who dragged you out this long!"
"Right now, Todoroki's probably already at the exit gate."
"So no matter how strong you are—
"You've already lost."
All Might's eyes darkened.
"You still don't get it."
"What don't I get?"
"You don't realize how much you're holding yourself back by depending on these tools."
The ground beneath All Might's feet cracked violently.
"Until Todoroki passes through that gate or the timer hits zero…"
"I'll make you experience that pain all over again.
"And this time, it'll hurt even more!"
"Shit!"
Kaminari's face paled.
The memory of being slammed into the ground repeatedly came rushing back.
The pain he could handle.
The humiliation?
That was unbearable.
"What do I do? What do I do?!"
In his panic, he tried to re-enter High-Voltage Mode, even though his body screamed from the strain.
But before he could escape.
All Might appeared in front of him.
His thick arm reached toward Kaminari's shoulder inch by inch, like a slow-motion nightmare.
Then—
A chill swept through the air.
Suddenly, a massive iceberg materialized between them!
Kaminari's eyes widened in shock.
"Todoroki… why… are you here?"
***
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