The matches that followed were just as spectacular.
Mina Ashido used her acid to skate across the arena with dazzling agility.
Gigantic arm-based Quirks smashed the ground apart.
Strange and flashy inventions filled the battlefield.
The audience was thoroughly entertained.
"Next match—Igarashi Masata versus Kirishima Eijiro!"
The moment Present Mic's voice echoed through the stadium, Masata—who had been waiting calmly in the contestant tunnel—rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms.
"Finally," he muttered with a grin.
"My turn."
The instant he stepped into the arena, thunderous cheers erupted from the stands.
Whether it was his appearance, his overwhelming strength, or the absolute dominance he had displayed so far, Igarashi Masata was undeniably one of the crowd's favorites.
"Class A's leader, Igarashi Masata! Champion of the qualifiers! Champion of the cavalry battle!"
"And standing opposite him—the passionate man of steel, Kirishima Eijiro, owner of an old-school yet incredibly reliable Quirk!"
"What kind of explosive showdown will these two bring us?!"
"Begin!"
The two stood facing each other in the center of the arena.
"Kirishima," Masata said calmly,
"There are no brothers in this ring. You understand that, right?"
Kirishima grinned widely, fire blazing in his eyes.
"Yeah! Then come at me with everything you've got, Masata!"
They charged at each other at the same time.
Masata threw the first punch.
His fist slammed directly into Kirishima's face with brutal force, sending Kirishima skidding backward across the concrete.
"That didn't hurt at all, you bastard!"
Kirishima wiped the dust from his cheek.
The skin of his face had already hardened, jagged rocky patterns spreading outward.
"So you can take it?"
Masata laughed, clearly pleased.
"Good. It's hard to find punching bags like you these days."
A whip kick shot toward Kirishima's waist.
This time, Kirishima reacted instantly—crossing his hardened arms to block the strike.
Even so, the impact forced him back several steps.
"No matter how many times I see it," Kirishima admitted through clenched teeth,
"your strength is still terrifying."
Right now, Masata looked less like a student and more like a wild beast.
That overwhelming pressure…
That raw combat instinct…
It was enough to make even Kirishima feel breathless.
"Hey! What are you doing, you idiot?!"
A loud voice suddenly roared from the stands.
"That Quirk of yours is basically the same as mine—are you really going to stop at this level?! Get serious!!!"
"…Tetsutetsu?"
Masata and Kirishima both recognized the voice.
They had clashed during the qualifiers—two men with similar Quirks who couldn't stand each other.
And yet now, that same man was shouting encouragement.
"If all you can do is take hits, then get out of the way and let me fight him instead!!!"
Kirishima snorted.
"Cheh. I haven't even gone down yet, and you're already laughing at me?"
Despite his words, a blazing fire ignited in his eyes.
"…You're right."
"This won't cut it!!!"
Kirishima roared.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
His entire body changed.
The hardened skin spread across him like jagged armor, forming sharp protrusions—no longer smooth stone, but something brutal and monstrous.
"Is that—?!"
Masata's eyes widened.
"A transformation? A breakthrough in the middle of battle?"
He clenched his fists, excitement surging.
"Kirishima… you really did it!"
The two collided again.
For the first time, their fists met head-on—
—and Kirishima didn't get blown back.
"Tetsutetsu!" Kirishima shouted fiercely.
"Thanks! I'm rock-hard now!"
He could feel it clearly.
Not just greater hardness—but greater strength.
Like a layer of living armor.
He charged forward again without hesitation.
"So not only tougher, but stronger too?" Masata muttered, examining the cracked skin on his own knuckles.
"You treating me like a whetstone or something?"
Then he grinned.
"I really want to congratulate you…
but it's time for you to lie down."
Masata finally activated his Quirk.
"Lava Gloves."
Molten energy enveloped his fists.
The attack area expanded.
Power skyrocketed.
Heat radiated violently.
Unlike before—when Masata relied purely on physical strength—this was a complete transformation.
Strength.
Speed.
Destructive force.
All of it jumped to an entirely different level.
Kirishima stared at the black-and-red fist steaming with heat—
—and chose to trust his body.
"It's—hot!!!"
Even his evolved Hardening couldn't fully resist the temperature.
The instant their fists collided, Kirishima felt like his arm had been plunged into boiling liquid—
—and then—
Masata's lava-coated punch shattered the hardened "scales" on Kirishima's arm without resistance.
The smoking fist slammed straight into Kirishima's chest.
The impact was like being hit by a speeding truck.
Kirishima spat blood as his body flew backward, his hardened state collapsing instantly.
Smoke and dust exploded across the arena.
"This isn't even a fair fight!" Present Mic shouted.
"Even after breaking through, Kirishima Eijiro can't withstand Igarashi Masata's power!"
"One punch—KO!!!"
The outcome was obvious.
Kirishima crashed out of bounds, completely unable to continue.
"Igarashi Masata wins!"
"Is anyone capable of stopping him?!"
Masata shook the magma from his hands, leaving scorched craters in the concrete.
He walked over to where Kirishima was stuck halfway in the wall and grabbed him.
"You okay?"
"Ahem—damn it, you really don't hold back," Kirishima groaned.
Masata laughed loudly and slapped his shoulder—causing Kirishima to nearly collapse again.
"If you can still complain, you're fine."
"But seriously—congrats. You got stronger today."
"And because of that, you owe me a barbecue."
Kirishima laughed despite the pain.
"Yeah, yeah! And I owe Tetsutetsu too—I'll drag him along next time!"
"And you… damn, you're terrifying. I didn't even get a chance!"
Despite losing, Kirishima's expression was bright.
Because here, becoming stronger mattered more than victory.
Masata returned to the stands.
Kirishima was escorted to the temporary infirmary.
The Sports Festival continued—
and the true monsters were only just beginning to reveal themselves.