Iron Maiden

This one is longer than the last chapter! Okay, new trend for 'Iron Maiden'. When a major event is happening, the chapters will be longer. Okay? Okay!

By the way, this had two endings. One is the real deal, and the other is an alternative ending. The alternative ending will be at the very bottom after the preview of the next chapter. Go read it if you wish.

"No matter the outcome, no hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings."

"Begin!"

I quickly whipped out my pistol and began to fire it at Midoriya. Midoriya dodged them all as he started running to his left. I ran with him as I kept firing, but he was too agile for me to land a hit on him. "Damn he is fast," I say as I change my aim and fire a few feet in front of him. I almost catch him off guard, but it doesn't work as he jumps to his right to avoid being hit and going out of bounds. I give up using the pistol and run towards him. Midoriya seems a bit frightened by my display of competitiveness. I guess he never thought I would be this aggressive already.

When I get close to Midoriya, I throw a left hook at him, but he counters by crossing his arm against mine and striking me in the face while I miss him. I stagger backward slightly and feel him grab my arm. I quickly break his hold and kick him square in the gut and follow up with another kick to his face. Midoriya yelps in pain as I do a spinning kick to his head, but he blocks it with his arm before flipping me backward. I swiftly put my hands behind me and use all my strength to push myself back up onto my feet and try to go for another punch, but I meet his fist with mine. We then lock hands and attempt to use our other fists at the same time only for them to end up in the same grasp. I pull our arms down so they are crossed as we look at each other.

"You're pretty good," I say with a smirk on my face.

"Same with you," Midoriya replies as we break it off and jump back to gain distance.

The crowd cheers for us as we examine each other while walking back towards the center of the stage.

"WOW! WHAT A SPECTACLE! WHAT A FURY OF STRIKES AND COUNTERS BY BOTH OPPONENTS!" Present Mic says over the speakers, "WHO'S READY FOR ROUND TWO?! I SURE KNOW I AM!"

I pop my neck and press a button on my wrist, "Alright, let's see you handle this." A new baby I haven't showcased yet reveals itself. My hands get wrapped up in metal nanites that increase my overall strength and speed of punches. I simply call them gauntlets.

"This is going to be a tough match." Midoriya signed as I charged at him once more with my left fist reeling back. When I get close to him, I throw my fist but once Midoriya focuses on my strike, I pull back and use my other hand to clock him in the jaw. Midoriya is left stunned as I take advantage and hit him with an uppercut that takes him off his feet. As Midoriya is hanging in midair, I punch him straight in the chest and send him flying back.

I hear Midoriya groaning as he picks himself back up, "I thought Tony said he has a Strength Enhancement Quirk." I thought to myself, "It doesn't seem like Midoriya is using it. Is he holding back?" The mere thought of Midoriya holding back against me rubs me the wrong way. I want him to fight me at his best and not treat me like a second rate fighter!

"Hey! Midoriya!" I yell out to him, "Are you even taking this seriously?!"

Midoriya, while grabbing at his stomach, blinks at me in surprise, "O-Of course I am!"

"Really?!" I say and cross my arms over my chest, "Then why do I get the feeling you are holding back!" The expression Midoriya makes confirms my answer that he is holding back against me. Though I am a hypocrite because I haven't busted out Version 1, I can't help but feel agitated by this development, "How disappointing." I say to myself as I run back to him once again.