"Why did the sky turn red?!"
A shocked voice rang out from the stands.
Present Mic, who had already sensed something was wrong, lifted his head and looked toward the sky. His eyes widened instantly.
"T-This… what an absolutely spectacular scene!!!"
Even for a professional announcer like him, encountering something like this for the first time left his words stumbling.
The once snow-white clouds overhead had been completely dyed a deep crimson, casting an oppressive, ominous atmosphere over the stadium. The air itself felt hotter, as if the temperature had risen several degrees without warning.
"It looks like something's coming down!"
A sharp-eyed spectator shouted.
From within the thick red clouds, enormous lava fists descended like falling meteors. As they tore through the air, violent friction produced thunderous roars that echoed across the entire course.
"Is that a meteor shower?!"
"No—wait! That's Igarashi's Quirk!"
Present Mic snapped back into commentary mode.
"Incredible! Igarashi Masata has artificially created a meteor strike! This is practically a natural-disaster-class Quirk!"
Despite the overwhelming visuals, Masata's attack was precisely controlled. The lava fists were concentrated strictly over the racecourse, and thanks to the vast size of the stadium, the audience remained completely unaffected.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
One meteor-like lava fist after another smashed down onto the giant robots ahead. The kinetic force from the high-altitude drop combined with terrifying heat annihilated the machines instantly.
"The Robot Hell has been completely destroyed by a single move! Is this student a demon?! These robots cost hundreds of millions of yen each!"
A wail of despair echoed across the venue.
Masata heard it clearly.
Why does Mic sound like the money's coming out of his own salary…?
Just where does U.A.'s funding even come from, anyway…?
The splashing magma made many students panic. Even with Recovery Girl on standby, no one wanted to test their luck by touching molten lava. Fortunately, most students had kept their distance—and those who ran fast enough avoided being caught in Masata's Meteor Volcano entirely.
"But wait! Didn't this just help everyone behind him?" Present Mic laughed.
"Could it be that Igarashi is secretly a kind-hearted hero?~"
Masata's mouth twitched.
Helping everyone? I worked this hard just to pave the road for others? In your dreams.
Without explaining anything, Masata sprinted forward—running directly across the molten magma.
Only then did the students behind him realize the problem.
The lava hadn't disappeared.
Instead, it had accumulated on the ground, forming a continuous magma belt that completely blocked the course.
Compared to the robot hell, this was a far more terrifying obstacle.
Masata had no intention of carrying everyone along with him. Since he'd decided to take first place, eliminating competitors was only natural. What was impassable for others was effortless for him.
Most students froze in frustration—but a few elites made their move.
Todoroki Shoto acted first.
With a swing of his right arm, a massive ice bridge instantly formed across the lava belt. He skated across it at high speed and leapt forward before the ice could melt.
At the same time Masata began moving, Yaoyorozu Momo activated her Quirk. In mere moments, she created two simple hang-gliding wings and two heat-resistant cloaks. Taking Chacha with her, she glided over the ice bridge just before it dissolved.
One by one, strange and powerful Quirks emerged as students showcased their ingenuity to overcome Masata's artificial roadblock.
But far more students were forced to stop.
They stared helplessly at the bubbling lava pool ahead. The intense heat made it impossible to approach—let alone cross. The ice bridge had already melted completely, leaving only steam, which quickly vanished in the searing air.
For most of them, there were only two options left:
Wait for the magma to cool…
Or be eliminated.
Meanwhile, Masata—moving at full speed—had already reached the second obstacle.
"Let's check in on the latest standings!" Present Mic shouted enthusiastically.
"Igarashi Masata, bold and maybe a little sinister, is still far in the lead! He's reached the second challenge already! Can he clear it just as easily?!"
Next to him, Aizawa Shouta sat motionless, playing his role as a silent observer to perfection.
"And in second place—also from Class 1-A—Todoroki Shoto! And just a reminder for everyone, his father is the Number Two Hero—Endeavor!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"So that's Endeavor's son!"
"Guess power really does run in the family…"
Although Todoroki's ice bridge wasn't as visually devastating as Masata's Meteor Volcano, it left a powerful impression on the audience. Present Mic, irritating as he could be in class, was undeniably excellent at firing up a crowd.
"…Tch. So you really came."
Todoroki glanced back briefly and immediately spotted Endeavor—impossible to miss even among thousands of spectators.
Since you're here… then watch carefully.
He turned forward again, eyes locked ahead.
There was someone in front of him he had no confidence of defeating.
"What am I seeing?!" someone shouted.
"The leading runners are almost all from Class 1-A! Are they really this strong?!"
It was true.
Aside from a handful of exceptions, the front of the pack was almost entirely dominated by Class 1-A.
Masata needed no explanation. Bakugo, teeth clenched, charged forward in furious pursuit. Yaoyorozu and Chacha maintained their lead with the gliding equipment. Kirishima Eijiro, relying on pure physical strength, pushed his way up from behind.
"The students from other departments and Class B aren't bad," All Might murmured from the viewing room.
"But…"
"They lack decisiveness," Aizawa finished calmly.
"People who have seen higher levels. People who've faced true terror. People who've survived real despair."
"All of that becomes nourishment."
"It strips away hesitation."
"Even without my Quirk—I am still the strongest."
Watching his students dominate the field, even Aizawa's bandaged, perpetually tired face showed the faintest hint of a smile.
At this moment—
Midoriya Izuku—
...
Hey everyone! Want to read ahead and unlock up to 100 early-access chapters? Plus, enjoy even more exclusive novels! Join my Patreon now and dive into the adventure!
patreon.com/Rawink00