To a Jedi with a lightsaber, a single-shot laser is meaningless. For someone of Anakin's caliber, it wouldn't have mattered even if they were unarmed. This was a large part of why the Jedi remained a unique and dominant force in a Republic where blasters were the norm.
"Surrender. Further resistance is pointless."
"Damn it...!"
Grimacing, Aoyama tried to scramble away. However, with one leg dragging, his speed was pathetic. He couldn't outrun me.
"Whoa—?!"
Just as I had done with Himiko, I used a Force Pull to yank Aoyama toward me. Before he could recover, I wound the capture tape around his torso.
『Aoyama—Captured!』 All Might's voice boomed over the speakers.
One down.
"You're... really something, you know that?" Aoyama muttered, looking defeated.
"Thank you."
"And that weapon... it's très bien☆"
"Thank you. I happen to believe it is the most elegant weapon in the galaxy."
I gave a respectful nod to Aoyama, who managed a playful wink despite his frustration.
Sensing his emotions through the Force, I got the feeling his "frustration" stemmed more from my lightsaber being flashier than his Quirk than from actually losing the exercise. I decided not to mention it; that seemed like a conversation that would last all day.
Now, only Iida remained. How was Tokoyami faring?
I could feel the echoes of a struggle coming from the floors above. They had clearly engaged.
『Iida is faster than I anticipated! Can you back me up?』 Tokoyami's voice crackled over the comms.
"Copy that. On my way."
I broke into a sprint, accelerating even further the moment the transmission ended. Within moments, I reached the room where the two were clashing.
I peered inside... and saw Iida. Despite clutching a massive prop bomb that was larger than his own body, he was absolutely overwhelming Tokoyami with sheer speed.
He had trained well. To maintain that kind of velocity while carrying a heavy, oversized object—and to navigate a cramped room without losing momentum—was no small feat. Tokoyami was fighting hard with Dark Shadow, but his own physical stats were his weak point. He couldn't quite close the gap to deliver the finishing blow.
Watching them, I recalled our conversation before the match started. I checked the remaining time, then keyed my comms to Tokoyami.
"Tokoyami... I'm here."
『And?』
"Mind if I try talking him down?"
There were still over five minutes on the clock. Even if negotiation failed, we had plenty of time to pivot back to force.
『...Fine. I'll leave it to you.』
With his permission, I stepped into the room, cutting off Iida's path of retreat.
"So, Masue has joined the fray...!"
"That's right. You're the last one left, Iida."
Iida didn't stop moving. He prepared to keep fighting a battle he had almost no hope of winning. I looked at him and spoke, lacing my voice with the suggestive weight of the Force.
"Stop this. There is no longer any need for you to fight. You have been abandoned."
"...?! What are you talking about!?"
"We know the truth. The Villains took your family hostage to force you into this life of crime. But your boss? He fled the country minutes ago. He used the distraction of you and this 'nuclear weapon' to make his clean escape."
"Wh-what...? That can't be..."
At first, Iida looked utterly bewildered, but the "truth" seemed to take root in his mind. He tried to stay focused, but his movements became visibly sluggish.
"You don't have to put your life on the line for them anymore. Come with us. Your family is waiting."
"B-but...! But I! I've done terrible things!"
"It's alright. We'll speak on your behalf. We'll negotiate for a lighter sentence, perhaps even probation. We will help you reintegrate into society. It's going to be okay."
"Ah..."
I took a single step forward and held out my hand. Iida staggered toward me, his resolve crumbling.
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