"An iceberg like this… it's seriously tough."
Feeling the resistance pushing back against his fist, Igarashi Masata gained a new understanding of Todoroki's strength.
"With power like this, it's no wonder Midoriya Izuku lost to you. Whether it's your Quirk, your physique, or your reaction speed—you've already surpassed what a first-year should be capable of."
As he said that, Masata seemed to completely forget that he himself was also only a freshman. Or perhaps, from the very beginning, his perspective had never been limited to the boundaries of U.A.
"But even so—this still isn't enough!!!"
The magma surging around his arm suddenly accelerated. His already massive arm expanded once more, swelling with violent heat.
"Break for me!"
With a sudden burst of power, the crimson glow of the lava fist intensified. The temperature skyrocketed in an instant, and the ice in front of him began to melt dangerously fast.
"—Hah!"
In the end, the enormous iceberg was pierced straight through by the terrifying lava.
The magma that forced its way inside erupted violently, shattering the solid ice from within. Cracks spread instantly, and the entire mass collapsed, evaporating into steam and flames.
"Even an iceberg that massive was completely vaporized!!! That temperature is insane!!!"
Present Mic stared at the scene in disbelief. Even professional heroes would struggle to deal with an attack like that—yet Masata had crushed it through raw force alone.
"He's far stronger than when he fought the sludge villain…"
All Might, who had personally witnessed Masata's power back then, felt a wave of emotion. Compared to a year ago, Masata had improved in every aspect. His growth rate was terrifying—and reassuring at the same time.
After destroying the iceberg, Masata did not press his attack further. He withdrew his arm from the magma, causing large chunks of molten rock to fall from the air, smashing into the already-ruined arena.
"Well? Looks like you're reaching your limit," Masata said calmly.
"The speed of your ice formation just now was noticeably slower."
At this point, a thick layer of frost covered the right half of Todoroki's body. His movements were stiff, his reactions dulled, his thoughts slowed.
"Hoo… hoo…"
Cold breath escaped his lips as Todoroki spoke for the first time since the match began.
"At my current level… I'm not your opponent."
"I think—"
"Stop."
Masata cut him off instantly.
Todoroki froze, momentarily confused.
"Is this really all the resolve you have?" Masata asked coldly.
"You think you can surpass the No.1 Hero with this?"
"The title of first place belongs only to someone who cannot afford to lose. Anyone who shrinks back in the face of adversity doesn't deserve it."
His expression was nothing like before—serious, sharp, merciless.
As Todoroki listened, memories surfaced unbidden.
From the age of five, he had endured brutal training alone, while other children played.
The training ground was cold. Endless. Silent.
His mother, once gentle, gradually lost the light in her eyes.
Then one day—boiling water.
After that, she was gone.
"There's no right or wrong in power," Masata continued.
"The difference lies only in the person who chooses how to use it."
"You turned away from your true self because of the resentment in your heart. That's not strength—it's weakness."
In Todoroki's mind, his mother's voice resurfaced, soft and distant.
'Shoto wants to be a hero too, doesn't he?'
'If you want to be, you can break free from this bloodline and become yourself—the person you truly want to be.'
Standing before an overwhelming opponent, those words finally reached him.
"It's not just you who wants to be No.1!!!"
A massive flame surged from the left half of his body.
The frost melted instantly. Heat flooded through him, restoring his movement.
"SHOTO!!!"
The shout didn't come from Masata.
It came from the stands.
"Finally… you've accepted your own strength!"
Endeavor was shaking with excitement, flames blazing around his body as he stepped forward, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"This match will be your new beginning! Inherit my blood—surpass me—and fulfill my ambition!"
"…I really can't stand the way he talks."
Masata, fully aware of Todoroki's family situation, could only feel secondhand embarrassment. Endeavor was practically forcing his son into the spotlight.
Ignoring his father entirely, Todoroki fixed his gaze on Masata.
"Your words make sense," he said slowly.
"But I don't have time to think about it right now."
"Right now… I just want to give everything I have to defeat you!"
Flames surged from his arm, condensing into a roaring fireball that blasted straight toward Masata.
"So you've finally figured it out?" Masata laughed.
"Good! This is the opponent I wanted!"
He spread his arms wide and welcomed the flames head-on.
BOOM!
The fireball slammed into Masata and exploded, engulfing him completely. He vanished within the blaze, becoming a human-shaped inferno.
"This is the first time Todoroki has used flames in this match!"
"And the first time he's landed a hit on Igarashi Masata! Did it work?!"
Todoroki's expression was solemn.
His flame control wasn't as precise as his ice—this was raw output. But against carbon-based lifeforms, fire was far deadlier than ice.
"This feeling… it's amazing!"
Suddenly, Masata's eyes opened within the flames.
Crimson light burst outward.
Magma began flowing across his body.
The raging fire instantly began to shrink when it touched the magma. Flames were swallowed one after another, fading rapidly as the molten flow expanded.
"I don't know how hot your flames burn," Masata said calmly,
"but they don't seem capable of burning my magma."
Encased in flowing crimson liquid, Masata looked almost monstrous.
While flames can theoretically burn hotter than magma—some reaching over 5,000 degrees—magma is a non-flammable liquid formed under immense pressure.
It can smother fire.
Even if extreme heat can evaporate magma, that process takes time—just like how a blowtorch can't instantly evaporate water.
In simple terms—
Magma was the natural nemesis of flames.