Chapter 103: Meaning of Strength

[3rd POV]

Shoto glared at the Kugutsu. Both sides were wary of each other and waiting for the opposing side to make a move. Shoto finally decided to break the stand-off as he sent a wave of fire at his opponent. Kugutsu flicked his wrist as a gigantic bulky puppet appeared out of nowhere and shielded the villain from the fire.

Contrary to his expectations, the puppet began to glow an orange colour and its tough exterior melted into an unidentifiable mess. Kugutsu cursed and he swiftly dodged as an iceberg emerged from the ground where he was previously standing.

Metal strings shot out from the villain's sleeves and embedded themselves into the cavern walls. He pulled and five puppets armed with sharp blades burst out of hiding and pounced at Shoto in unison.

The hero evaded the knives and roundhouse kicked as his foot smashed into one of the puppet's necks. Ice travelled along the doll's body, completely encasing the mannequin in place.

Immediately, he twisted his body and a blade narrowly misses the tip of his nose. Shoto clicked his teeth and launched a wall of flames to distance himself from his enemies. The intense heat burned the puppet and their joints cackled like skeletons. The strings connecting to the puppets snapped, rendering them motionless.

With the current threat gone, Shoto faced Kugutsu and stomped the ground. A massive ice ridge ruptured from the floor. Kugutsu swung his arm as the metal strings became thin whips, slashing the ice into pieces.

However, when the glacier was destroyed, the villain saw Shoto holding a javelin made of ice. Shoto hurled the javelin at the villain, Kugutsu managed to react in time but the projectile stuck him on the side of his mask.

Kugutsu was knocked backward as the left side of his mask cracked, revealing a face covered with scars. Blood dripped down from Kugutsu's forehead and he glared at Shoto with his bloodshot eyes.

"Enough playing around," Kugutsu muttered with rage.

The ground below Shoto and Kugutsu rumbled as the mechanical trapdoor opened. Shoto watched cautiously and to his horror, a giant claw reached out from the darkness as an enormous monster emerges.

The monster lunged at Shoto but he dodged and tried to drive it away with his fire. However, even if the creature felt pain, it didn't care and snapped its jaws at the young hero. He threw himself to the ground as the teeth barely missed his flesh and quickly recovered

Shoto glared at Kugutsu who patted the creature, "She's a true beauty, isn't she?" Kugutsu said with pride.

Shoto scowled as he got a clearer view of his new enemy. The monster resembled a canine creature mixed with a nomu. Its body was a combination of dried flesh, mashed fur and metal puppet parts with stitches showing signs of crude surgeries. It has teeth and claws made of durable steel, ready to shred anything into ribbons. Cords were attached to the creature's nerve tendons, and some of its organs were visible through some exposed bones.

"I made it with the finest material and used some experiment to apply a gigantification quirk to it..." Kugutsu explained.

Shoto felt disgusted as he launched an attack at Kugutsu, but the monster defended the villain with its massive body. It then immediately charged at Shoto and his eyes widened as the creature appeared before him with a single leap. The beast swung its dagger-like claws as Shoto leapt into the air to evade.

However, the beast instantly twisted its head and bit Shoto on the arm, the monster shook its head wildly, trying to tear Shoto's arm off. He winced as the sharp teeth dug through his protective clothing and into his flesh.

Shoto froze the beast's mouth to stop the bite and the monster tossed Shoto away. The hero landed safely and he ignored the searing pain in his arm as Shoto charged with his fist coated in flames. Shoto rushes toward his enemy with Flash Fire Fist however he suddenly fell to the ground and vomits a mouthful of blood.

Shoto glanced at his injured arm and his eyes widened with shock. His right arm was bleeding profusely and his skin had turned into a pale purple colour. He stared at the beast's teeth and it was dripping a weird green mucus covered with Shoto's own blood.

'Poison!' Shoto thought as the pain increased by the second and a massive headache assaulted his mind.

Before Shoto could react, the beast charged and swung its tail. The attack smashed into his chest and he felt his ribs breaking from the impact. Shoto's body smashed into the wall and the air was knocked out of his lungs.

The hero leaned against the wall and his vision started to dim as he was losing focus on the villain...

"Just accept your fate; you're not strong enough compared to that girl. You're nothing." Kugutsu teased.

'Nothing, huh....' Shoto thought as he couldn't help but remember a particular memory.

[Flash Back]

Timeline: Just after the Hero License Exam.

In the UA, gymnasium, Shoto and Kaede were having a spar, he was frustrated at failing so Kaede proposed to train with him. They fought each other to improve their strength, however, Shoto felt like he wasn't much help as Kaede was much stronger than him.

Shoto's view suddenly turned upside down when Kaede pummeled him to the ground. He had fallen so many times now that he couldn't recall the exact number. Kaede landed beside him and held out her hand.

"Sorry for being too weak." He sighed dejectedly.

"You not weak, Shoto-kun," Kaede answered.

Shoto stared at Kaede and smiled sadly: "It's okay, you don't have to lie to cheer me up..."

"I'm not lying; you're strong!" Kaede persisted and Shoto stared with doubt.

Kaede smacked him and pouted: "You're not weak, Shoto-kun; please stop feeling that way!"

Shoto eventually nodded, and Kaede calmed down. She gently placed her hand on his chest: "Never compare yourself to someone else. When you compare yourselves to others, you will only focus on their achievements and ignore your own...."

Shoto blushed at their close distance: "Th..then can I ask you a question?" he asked.

"Sure what is it?"

"What do you think being strong means?" Shoto questioned.

"Hmmm," Kaede tilted her head: "I guess it's to have the power to make a change? Or in my opinion, the ability to protect something you really care about! That's also why we want to become heroes right? Because we want to make the world a better place and save people that couldn't stand up for themselves!" Kaede smiled softly.

"That's why even if we fall. If we cry, we shouldn't give up but stand up once again. It doesn't matter how beaten or battered you've become. Continue fighting because there's always something to protect!"

"So who do you want to protect Shoto-kun?" Kaede asked mischeviously.

[Flashback ends]

Shoto sighed, 'Back then I don't know the answer to your question. But after all that we have been through... Now I know, the one I want to protect is you!'

Shoto gritted his teeth as he steadily stood up. He clasped his hand together and closed his eyes. He channels both halves of his Quirk throughout his body via his circulatory system, using his heart as a generator to circulate the chilled and hot blood around his entire body, merging the two halves of his Quirk into a single ability.

"I...I call this Phosphor...." Shoto muttered.

Kugutsu felt great danger from what Shoto was doing as he controlled the beast to attack the hero. Shoto's eyes snapped open as he felt a brand new power in his veins and he propelled himself at the villain.

Shoto appeared before the monster as he struck with his fist and the beast was instantly covered with a white-coloured fire. The puppet began to melt as its movement became sluggish and began to burn.

"Impossible!" Kugutsu shouted as he desperately tried to free his creation.

However, Shoto aimed his palm at the puppet. He clenched his fist in a grasping motion as the intense flame instantly transformed into cold ice. The beast became utterly frozen, the ice statue began to fracture as the puppet shattered into thousands of tiny pieces and Kugutsu watched in a daze. He greatly underestimated Shoto, and that ultimately led to his downfall.

Kugutsu watched in a daze as Shoto rushes up to the villain. Before Kugutsu realises what happened, Shoto unsheathed the wakizashi Kaede gifted to him and stabbed it into the villain's heart...

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I hope you enjoy it!