Wings of Awakening

Part 33

Izuku walked out of his waiting room, heading toward the arena for his match with Todoroki. His thoughts were interrupted as a figure with a flaming beard stepped into his path.

"Ah, the person I was looking for," Endeavor said as he spotted Izuku, his intense gaze focused on him. Izuku's excitement dimmed slightly.

"Endeavor," Izuku replied with a nod, keeping his expression neutral.

"You have a powerful quirk and seem to be a dual-type as well. But no matter—this fight will be Shoto's chance to show the world his greatness," Endeavor stated, his voice a mixture of pride and command. "It is his duty to surpass All Might."

Izuku paused, looking back as Endeavor turned to continue his walk, and called out, "Todoroki isn't you, Endeavor. Leave him out of whatever twisted plans you have. I'm will crush those with my own hands."

Endeavor stopped, eyes narrowing, but said nothing as Izuku turned back toward the arena, determination solidifying his resolve.

In the arena, Izuku stood across from Todoroki, who wore a strained, conflicted expression.

"Looks like he had a run-in with Endeavor too," Izuku thought, tightening his fists. He could tell Todoroki was torn, and he resolved to get him to use his full power.

Present Mic's voice boomed over the arena. "LET THE MATCH BEGIN!"

As soon as the signal sounded, Todoroki summoned a massive glacier of ice, sending it hurtling toward Izuku. Reacting instantly, Izuku spread his wings, dodging upward and taking to the sky, careful to remain within the arena's perimeter.

Realizing he'd need to up the ante, Izuku began firing blasts of telekinetic energy down at Todoroki. Todoroki slid across the arena on a sheet of ice, dodging each blast with precision, but Izuku's speed made it hard to evade entirely. In a clever maneuver, Izuku tore chunks off the glacier Todoroki had created, hurling them back toward him.

"IT SEEMS MIDORIYA IS SENDING TODOROKI'S ICE BACK AT HIM! HOW WILL TODOROKI RESPOND?" Present Mic shouted, hyping up the crowd as the two kept clashing.

As their intense exchange went on, Izuku noticed frost creeping across Todoroki's face and arms. He was reaching the limits of his ice quirk's endurance, showing early signs of hypothermia. Realizing this, Izuku shouted down to him.

"Todoroki! Use your fire! You won't beat me with ice alone. I'll keep sending it back at you until one of us gives in!"

"Did my father send you?" Todoroki asked bitterly, finally responding.

"No," Izuku replied, landing for a moment. "I met him in the waiting room."

Todoroki's expression hardened, but Izuku continued, undeterred. "Do you want to know what I told him? I said you're not your father. So tell me, Todoroki—who are you fighting right now? Me or him?"

Todoroki's hands clenched, the battle momentarily forgotten as he grappled with Izuku's words.

"If you keep denying your quirk, Todoroki, you're only letting him control you—making you into a copy of the person you want to defy. One day, you'll come across something your ice can't handle. Will you let people suffer because you refuse to use everything you've got?" Izuku asked, voice steady. "Show the world who you are. It's your fire, not his. He can't control how you use it."

Izuku's words struck something deep within Todoroki, and he had a sudden memory of his mother's voice: "It's your quirk, Shoto... you can be whoever you want to be."

Suddenly, flames erupted on Todoroki's left side, merging with the frost on his right. The arena glowed with a fiery orange light as he finally activated his fire quirk, his face set with newfound determination.

"You're crazy, Midoriya, helping your enemy," Todoroki said, a small smile breaking his usual expression.

Izuku smirked back. "Well, I don't plan to lose, either."

From the stands, Endeavor's voice rang out. "SHOTO!" Todoroki's eyes flicked toward his father, but Izuku stepped forward, drawing his attention back.

"Forget him. It's me you're facing right now," Izuku reminded him. "So come at me with everything you've got."

"You got it, Midoriya," Todoroki said, his tone fierce, flames and frost growing on his hands as he charged his attack. Izuku responded in kind, building up his telekinetic force, a steady, powerful glow surrounding him.

In a final clash, Todoroki sent a devastating wave of ice and fire in a swirling torrent, and Izuku unleashed a powerful telekinetic push to meet it head-on. Cementoss quickly raised walls between them, but the force of their combined attacks sent a shockwave rippling through the entire stadium.

As the smoke cleared, the crowd leaned forward, eagerly waiting to see the outcome. Izuku stood in the center, breathing heavily, his wings folded close as he struggled to steady himself. Across the arena, Todoroki was still upright, though clearly drained, with ice creeping up his right side.

A thin sheet of ice coated the ground near the edge of the arena, where Todoroki had instinctively used his quirk to halt himself just in time to avoid falling out. Realizing his position, Todoroki withdrew his flames, acknowledging his limit with a calm nod.

The referee stepped forward, raising a hand. "The winner is Midoriya!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as Todoroki managed a small, grateful smile. Izuku approached him, extending a hand.

"Thanks for giving it your all," Izuku said, smiling as their hands met in a firm handshake.

Todoroki nodded, meeting his gaze. "Thank you, Midoriya. I needed this."

They left the arena as rivals, now with newfound respect for each other, both stronger for the battle they had fought.