Chapter 9: One-on-One Battles Begin

The sun bore down on the stadium as Midnight announced the commencement of the one-on-one battles, her excitement palpable even from a distance. The crowd roared in anticipation, their cheers vibrating through the air. For many, this was the highlight of the U.A. Sports Festival—the place where students would show their true mettle. For Jace, it was yet another stage, though this time, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of apprehension.

The large screen above the arena displayed the matchups, names appearing in randomized brackets. Jace's name flickered into place next to Todoroki Shoto's. The sight made him pause. A prodigy, he thought. This will be... interesting.

Kael's voice chuckled in his mind. "Finally, a real fight. Let me take the reins. You're too cautious."

Jace frowned. "Caution keeps us alive."

Kael pushed back, his tone sharp. "Surviving isn't winning. Let me show them what we're capable of."

The internal struggle was cut short by Midnight's voice echoing through the arena. "First match! Todoroki versus Jace! Competitors, take your positions!"

The battlefield was massive, a circular expanse of concrete with no cover. As Jace stepped into the arena, the cheers of the crowd fell away, replaced by the low hum of his own thoughts. Across from him, Todoroki stood with an icy calm, his mismatched eyes fixed on Jace like a predator sizing up prey.

"Don't hold back," Todoroki said, his voice cold. "I won't."

Jace nodded but said nothing. The referee raised her hand and brought it down sharply. "Begin!"

Todoroki wasted no time, thrusting his arm forward as a massive wall of ice surged toward Jace, its jagged edges glinting like knives in the sunlight. Jace reacted too slowly, the ice catching his side and sending him tumbling across the arena floor. The crowd gasped.

The sharp chill spread through Jace's body as he struggled to stand, his breath visible in the freezing air. Todoroki didn't wait for him to recover. Another wave of ice rushed forward, jagged and relentless. This time, Jace barely managed to leap out of the way, his shadows flickering weakly at his feet.

"Pathetic," Kael's voice snarled in his mind. "You're embarrassing us."

"Shut up," Jace muttered, gritting his teeth. But his movements were sluggish, his focus scattered.

Todoroki narrowed his eyes. "If this is all you've got, you shouldn't have made it this far."

The next barrage of ice came faster, and Jace couldn't avoid it. The impact drove him to his knees, the cold biting into his skin. The crowd murmured in disappointment, some already writing him off as defeated.

Kael's presence surged forward, a dark wave of fury and disdain. "Enough!" he roared. Without waiting for permission, he seized control.

Jace's body stiffened, his posture straightening unnaturally. His eyes darkened, their usual glow replaced by an eerie void. The shadows at his feet pulsed, growing larger and more menacing.

"What—" Todoroki started, but Kael didn't let him finish. The shadows exploded outward, shattering the ice and enveloping the arena in a suffocating darkness.

Kael's voice came from Jace's mouth, deeper and more guttural. "My turn."

Todoroki's eyes widened as Kael advanced, the shadows twisting around him like living creatures. He launched another wave of ice, but it was torn apart before it could reach its target. Kael closed the distance in an instant, delivering a brutal kick to Todoroki's chest that sent him sprawling.

The crowd erupted in shock, the sudden shift in the fight's momentum leaving them breathless. Todoroki scrambled to his feet, his breathing laboured. Kael was relentless, shadows lashing out like whips, forcing Todoroki to retreat.

"You're holding back," Kael growled, his voice echoing unnaturally. "Show me your fire, or this ends now."

"I don't need it to beat you," Todoroki snapped, ice spreading across the ground as he prepared another attack.

Kael laughed, a harsh and mocking sound. "Wrong answer."

The shadows surged forward, slamming into Todoroki with the force of a tidal wave. He managed to block most of the impact with a wall of ice, but the sheer power of the attack left him staggering.

Desperation flickered in Todoroki's mismatched eyes. The frost on his right side glowed faintly as his fire began to flicker to life.

"There it is," Kael said, a cruel smile spreading across Jace's face. "Now we're getting somewhere."

Todoroki launched a combined attack, ice and fire spiraling together in a devastating wave. The collision of elements created a massive shockwave, cracking the ground and sending debris flying. The crowd roared, their excitement palpable as the fight reached its peak.

But Kael was unfazed. The shadows absorbed the brunt of the attack, twisting and writhing like a storm. He closed the distance again, delivering a series of brutal strikes that left Todoroki reeling. Blood dripped from the prodigy's lip as he struggled to stay upright.

"Still holding back," Kael sneered. "Pathetic."

Todoroki's flames flared brighter, desperation fueling his resolve. He launched another attack, a concentrated blast of fire aimed directly at Kael. The shadows parted, and Kael stepped through the flames unscathed, his grin widening.

"It's over," Kael said, his voice heavy with finality.

Before Todoroki could react, Kael's shadows wrapped around him, slamming him into the ground with a sickening thud. The referee stepped forward, her voice hesitant as she raised her hand. "Todoroki is unable to continue. The winner is Jace!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, their excitement mingled with unease at the display of overwhelming power. Kael retreated into the recesses of Jace's mind, leaving him in control once more.

Jace staggered, the weight of the fight settling on him. He didn't look at Todoroki as he left the arena, his classmates' shocked stares following him every step of the way.

Back in the waiting area, Jace sat in silence, his hands trembling. Kael's voice was a whisper in his mind.

"See? That's how you win."

Jace didn't respond. He closed his eyes, the roar of the crowd still echoing in his ears. The festival was far from over, and the shadows within him loomed darker than ever.