Training Pt. 4

'Why is my heart pounding so hard right now?' Kenji couldn't help but feel a bit nervous standing across from Aizawa, 'I want to fight him but at the same damn time I can't help my knees from shaking.' 

"Both combatants are ready, fighting will begin in three…two…one…fight!" 

As the countdown ended Kenji wasted no time activating his quirk, enveloping his hands in gauntlets of pure darkness as his shadow expanded and rippled like a disturbed pond. If Aizawa was surprised by Kenji's quirk his face didn't show it, as he continued to stare at Kenji impassively. 

Under the weight of his gaze, Kenji felt his nerves start to spiral out of control, then he took a breath. The breathing pattern ingrained into his body took over and the turbulent waters in Kenji's mind stilled as he began to soar. 

With a mighty exhale Kenji took a step forward and rocketed across the arena carried on his abyssal wave. Sweeping across the floor Kenji spun with his wave using it to bolster his momentum as he kicked out with his leg. 

'First Movement of the Dragon's Flight: Serpentine Kick.' 

Kenji's kick was aimed at Aizawa's flank; if it connected it would shatter his ribs and send waves of concussive force rippling through his body. And for a brief movement Kenji almost believed he had taken his teacher by surprise, then Aizawa moved. 

In a flash Aizawa spread his legs apart widening his stance as he met Kenji's attack head on using the length of his forearm to stop the kick cold. A wave of pain radiated through Kenji's leg, it felt as if he had kicked a steel I-beam, but Aizawa hadn't so much as twitched. 

Pushing past the cloud of agony Kenji was about to pull his leg back when he felt the air ripple. Kenji blinked and when he opened his eyes again Aizawa's fist was mere inches away from his face. Time slowed down and Kenji's world narrowed the four knuckles ready to cave his face in. Reacting on pure instinct Kenji gathered all the abyss at his disposal and covered his entire head with it. 

'BANG!'

Kenji felt his head snap back as something heavy slammed into his face but he managed to remain standing. Carving two eye holes out of the abyss Kenji saw Aizawa staring at him inquisitively like a puzzle he was trying to piece together. 

Gritting his teeth Kenji jumped back as the void armor covering his face leapt through the air unfurling mid flight before latching onto Aizawa in a clawing black mass. 

Landing on both feet a few meters away Kenji looked back to Aizawa only to see the man wrench his arms apart ripping through the abyss restraining him like an old rope. 

Kenji's eyes boggled at the sight, maybe his quirk was lacking in offensive power, but its defensive and restrictive qualities should have been top notch for his power level. Feeling something wet across his top lip Kenji's tongue flicked out only to taste the metallic tang of blood, 'He made me bleed even with my void armor at its thickest?!' 

Kenji forced himself to breathe as he tried to think of a plan. Holding out his hand the hovering pieces of abyss surrounding Aizawa shot through the air gathering in Kenji's palm and forming a swirling sphere of darkness. 

'I know I'm supposed to lose…but this is starting to piss me off!' Kenji's face warped into a mask of fury and with a snarl he slapped his hands together, coating his arms in armor once more. Pushing off the ground, Kenji's legs turned into a blur as he ran across the arena, his eyes focused on Aizawa ready to react to the slightest movement. 

The moment came when Kenji was only a few feet away, Aizawa took two steps forward as his right hand came around in a devastating winding hook. The attack was perfectly timed, even as the target Kenji could see how the punch would land just as he got into range. And while it was highly choreographed Aizawa no doubt felt confident in his ability to respond to any counter Kenji could come up with. 

'Hmph,' Kenji grinned as at the last moment the armor around his arms melted, dripping to the ground and forming a pool around him. Aizawa's eyes narrowed wondering what Kenji's hidden ace would be but he didn't pull his punch back intent on seeing it all the way through. 

So as Kenji charged head first into arm's reach and Aizawa's punches blistered through the air with devastating speed the entire class winced expecting to see Kenji's limp form go flying through the air. But then Kenji suddenly shrunk losing half of his height between one instant and the next letting the hook sail right over his head. 

From the waist down Kenji's body disappeared, replaced by a disc of pure darkness. Sliding across the ground, Kenji drifted behind Aizawa before stepping out of the abyss and spinning on his heel. 

'Fifth Movement of the Dragon's Flight: Spiraling Backfist.'

Kenji rose up onto one leg as he spun and stuck out his fist that cleaved through the air with a brutal promise of violence. With Aizawa still facing forward, his entire arm extended from the punch, there seemed little way for him to react to Kenji's surprise attack. 

For a second Kenji wondered if he had actually gotten a leg up on Aizawa, when a familiar pressure slammed down on his body. Gritting his teeth Kenji felt all his momentum vanish as the air became an inescapable quagmire pressing in from all directions. Kenji could hardly breathe let alone move under the immense weight. 

Standing up languidly like he had all the time in the world, Aizawa turned around and faced Kenji still frozen mid-attack completely paralyzed, "You did well, but this fight is over. Surrender, there's no need for me to hit you." 

Gritting his teeth Kenji stared back at Aizawa for some reason his condescending words ignited a fire within him. Kenji had known going into the fight he was going to lose, he had looked up most of the pro-heroes from the anime and discovered that the power ceiling of this universe was far above what it had been in MHA. 

But for some reason Kenji still felt as if there was a way out.