"You're the most hardworking one here."
After Midoriya Izuku's match ended, the Recovery Girl wrapped him up like a zongzi. Since Masata's own match was scheduled later, he followed along to the infirmary.
"You're really stubborn, Izuku."
Izuku, having exhausted himself completely, could only lie flat on the bed. Masata stood beside him, looking down quietly.
"I still can't freely control the power of One For All," Izuku said weakly. "And I lost to Todoroki again… I'm really not satisfied."
Masata couldn't help laughing.
"If One For All were that easy to control, it wouldn't be so terrifying. Besides, how long have you had your Quirk? Todoroki's trained for over fifteen years—do you really expect to beat that overnight?"
"The road has to be walked step by step," Masata continued calmly. "You've already done very well this time. Right, All Might?"
Masata turned his head toward the infirmary door.
All Might stood there silently, thin and frail. He didn't respond.
All For One had resurfaced. He knew very well that time was running out—for Izuku.
"After this Sports Festival…" All Might finally spoke, his voice heavy.
"I'll find someone to help you control One For All as soon as possible."
Whether it was sadness or guilt in his expression, even he couldn't tell.
"The police have reported that the League of Villains is expanding rapidly. Midoriya Boy… you must grow stronger—fast."
The room fell silent.
Masata quietly stepped out, leaving the two alone.
By the time he returned to the stadium, Yaoyorozu Momo's match against Kendo Itsuka was already underway.
Although Kendo's Quirk allowed her to enlarge parts of her body, her speed was lacking. Once Yaoyorozu widened the distance and completed her first weapon, the outcome was nearly decided.
Grenades. Barriers. Suppression tools.
Kendo couldn't even get close. Forced into pure defense, she was gradually pushed back, allowing Yaoyorozu to create more weapons in a continuous loop. In the end, Kendo was blasted out of bounds by a shock grenade.
Next came Iida Tenya vs. Mina Ashido.
The match ended almost instantly.
The moment Iida entered the arena, his engines roared at full output. Mina barely had time to react before she was flung straight out of the ring.
At this point, three of the top four finalists were confirmed:
Shoto Todoroki
Iida Tenya
Yaoyorozu Momo
The final slot would be decided in the last match.
"Dear viewers!" Present Mic shouted excitedly.
"The final match of Round Two—an all–Class A showdown! The undefeated magma demon, Igarashi Masata, versus the explosive, merciless Bakugo Katsuki!"
"Magma demon?!" Masata muttered as he walked onto the stage.
"That nickname is awful. Does Mic have no sense of aesthetics?"
"Go to hell, magma bastard!"
Bakugo clearly had no interest in banter. The moment the match began, he charged straight at Masata.
"Don't rush, little Bakugo," Masata said calmly, sidestepping.
"Isn't the fun of battle more important than ending it too fast?"
Bakugo's punch whistled past Masata's chest. Masata grabbed Bakugo's wrist and attempted to throw him out of bounds—
"BOOM!"
Bakugo detonated an explosion from his palm at point-blank range, blasting Masata's grip away.
"The reaction speed is insane…" Bakugo realized instantly.
"And his raw strength is greater than mine—I can't let him get close."
Bakugo backed off, both palms aimed squarely at Masata.
"DIE!!!"
A massive explosion erupted—far larger than the one he used against Uraraka. The concrete floor shattered, and a massive cloud of smoke engulfed the arena.
Masata didn't dodge.
He raised one arm, as if trying to block the explosion head-on.
Flames swallowed him entirely.
"Igarashi didn't dodge at all!" Present Mic shouted in alarm.
"Bakugo has unleashed his full-power blast! Is the previously unstoppable Igarashi finally about to fall?!"
The audience erupted in panic.
The smoke slowly dispersed.
Masata's voice emerged from within.
"There was no need to dodge."
As the dust cleared, the entire stadium gasped.
"Igarashi's arm is gone!!!"
Present Mic screamed. Even Aizawa Shouta widened his eyes.
The arm Masata had raised was completely missing. Bright red blood dripped down from his shoulder.
A fracture could be healed.
But complete dismemberment—
That would be permanent.
Yaoyorozu's vision went black. She nearly collapsed, saved only by Tsuyu Asui grabbing her in time.
"Oh… this is getting a little dramatic," Masata muttered.
Feeling the emotional weight in the stands, he decided to stop pretending.
Magma erupted from his shoulder, flowing outward and reshaping itself. Within seconds, it cooled, solidified, and reformed—
A complete arm.
His clothes, however, were gone.
"…What?!"
The audience froze—then exploded into cheers.
"Regeneration?!"
"Is he immune to damage?!"
"No Quirk is invincible—there must be a flaw!"
"Even so, that's terrifying!"
Yaoyorozu finally relaxed, then immediately felt annoyed.
You idiot… you could've told me beforehand…
"Tch… useless?" Bakugo growled, biting his lip.
Masata tilted his head slightly, smiling.
"Now then—Round Two starts here, Bakugo."
The air between them tightened.