Forgotten Invitation (UA Civil War game)

The Battle of Wits and Fury

The abandoned street was eerily silent, save for the rhythmic sound of Bakugo's heavy breathing. His crimson eyes locked onto me, his expression a dangerous mix of rage and determination.

"I'm ending this, Usagi!" Bakugo snarled, his hands igniting with explosive force.

I gave him a mocking smile, brushing some dust off my jacket. "Are you sure you're ready for that, Katsuki? Because last I checked, you haven't managed to touch me yet."

He didn't waste any more words. With a guttural roar, Bakugo launched himself forward, explosions propelling him with alarming speed. I sidestepped at the last moment, his blast narrowly missing me and scorching the pavement instead.

The heat of his quirk burned my skin as I ducked and weaved through his relentless assault. Bakugo wasn't holding back—not that I expected him to—but this wasn't just mindless rage. He was calculating, driving me into tight corners, using his quirk to create barriers and force me into his line of attack.

"Getting clever, are we?" I quipped, darting under a low swing.

"You're all talk!" he barked, sending another explosion toward my feet.

The shockwave knocked me off balance, and I stumbled backward, catching myself just in time to avoid a follow-up blast aimed at my chest. Bakugo was relentless, closing the distance with brutal efficiency.

He wasn't the same reckless kid I remembered. He had grown, adapted, learned to think beyond sheer power. But so had I.

I focused on his movements, watching the subtle shifts in his weight, the twitch of his muscles before each attack. Bakugo's fighting style was aggressive and unyielding, but it was also predictable. Every move he made screamed of his intent, and I used that to my advantage.

When he swung wide, I ducked low and drove my knee into his ribs, hearing a satisfying grunt of pain. He retaliated with a close-range blast, but I rolled out of the way, the heat singing the back of my shirt.

"You're getting slower, Katsuki," I taunted, circling him. "Or maybe I'm just getting better."

His growl was feral, and he launched another barrage of explosions, forcing me to retreat. My muscles burned with the effort of keeping up, but I refused to let him see any weakness.

"You think you're so smart, huh?!" Bakugo yelled, his voice raw. "Let's see you dodge this!"

He jumped into the air, spinning mid-flight as he unleashed a massive blast aimed directly at the ground where I stood. The impact shattered the pavement, sending chunks of debris flying in every direction.

I shielded my face with my arm, coughing as the dust settled. Bakugo landed a few feet away, his hands still smoking, a triumphant smirk on his face.

"Gotcha."

But he didn't.

Before he could react, I lunged forward, using the cover of the dust cloud to close the distance. My fist connected with his jaw, the force of the punch sending him stumbling back.

"You're too cocky," I said, stepping closer.

He spat blood onto the ground, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "And you're dead."

He fired another explosion at point-blank range, the shockwave throwing me backward. Pain flared through my side as I hit the ground hard, but I pushed myself up, adrenaline fueling my movements.

Bakugo charged again, but this time, I was ready.

Sidestepping his attack, I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to drop his guard. With my free hand, I delivered a sharp blow to the back of his knee, making him buckle.

"You're strong," I admitted, my voice calm despite the chaos. "But strength isn't enough."

I let go and shoved him forward, watching as he stumbled and turned to face me, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You don't get it, do you?" Bakugo growled, his voice low. "I don't need to be smarter than you. I just need to hit you once."

He rushed me again, his movements faster and more erratic, but I could see the cracks in his strategy. His anger was blinding him, making him sloppy.

As he swung at me, I sidestepped and grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply. He cried out in pain, but I didn't let go. Instead, I drove my elbow into his face, blood spurting from his nose as he fell to the ground.

"Still think you can win?" I asked, my tone mocking as I stood over him.

Bakugo didn't answer. Instead, he rolled onto his back and fired another explosion, catching me off guard and sending me flying into a nearby wall. My head slammed against the bricks, stars dancing in my vision as I struggled to stay upright.

When I looked up, Bakugo was already on his feet, his face a mask of blood and determination.

"You're tough," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll give you that."

He didn't reply. He just charged again, his explosions lighting up the alley as he closed the distance.

I met him head-on this time, ducking under his swing and driving my knee into his stomach. He doubled over, and I took the opportunity to deliver a brutal punch to his ribs, feeling something crack under the impact.

"You're not invincible, Katsuki," I said, my voice cold. "No one is."

As he fell to his knees, gasping for air, I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet. His eyes were dazed, his movements sluggish, but he still tried to fight back.

"You should've stayed down," I muttered, delivering a final blow to his temple.

He crumpled to the ground, unconscious but alive.

I stood over him, my breathing heavy as I wiped the blood from my face. Bakugo had pushed me harder than I expected, but in the end, it wasn't enough.

"You never learn," I said quietly, looking down at his motionless form.

The urge to finish him off was tempting, but I resisted. This wasn't about killing. It was about proving a point.