The moment the gate shut behind them—
The atmosphere changed.
The artificial city no longer looked like training grounds.
It looked hostile.
Rows of empty buildings.
Concrete roads.
Concrete sidewalks.
Concrete barriers.
Concrete walls.
Concrete support beams.
Everywhere they looked—
material.
Material their opponent controlled.
At the center of the intersection stood Cementoss.
His massive frame looked almost immovable despite the compact weighted restraints wrapped around his arms and legs.
Unlike most teachers, he didn't immediately attack.
Instead—
He folded his hands calmly.
"You two should understand something before beginning."
Kirishima rolled his shoulders.
Kuro stood with his hands behind his back.
Cementoss raised one restrained arm.
"Your matchup was selected intentionally."
The ground trembled faintly.
"You are both close-range specialists."
Chunks of road slowly lifted.
"You possess exceptional endurance, offensive force, and the mentality to force momentum."
The cement formed floating walls around him.
"But…"
The walls thickened.
"…your opponent is a defensive long-range controller."
A building wall shifted.
Road barriers rose.
Pillars emerged.
"My quirk allows me to reshape concrete."
Another motion.
The terrain transformed.
"And unlike many ranged fighters…"
A thick wall slammed down.
"…I possess sufficient durability to withstand direct engagement."
Kuro looked at Kirishima.
Kirishima looked at Kuro.
Cementoss continued.
"Attempting immediate pursuit will place you at a disadvantage."
He raised another finger.
"Second."
Entire roads lifted.
The city itself seemed to move.
"Escape is highly unfavourable."
Kirishima blinked.
Cementoss continued professionally.
"The battlefield is overwhelmingly composed of concrete."
Road.
Buildings.
Walkways.
Structures.
"Even retreat remains under my control."
Then—he held up his restrained wrists.
"These restraints reduce my physical capability."
The metal bands clicked softly.
"But my quirk remains unaffected."
The city rumbled.
"Therefore…"
The cement gathered.
"…exploiting mobility and targeting my limited physical movement would—"
He stopped.
Kuro was making hand signs.
Not martial arts.
Not tactical signals.
Just…
random gestures.
Point.
Circle.
Two fingers.
Thumbs up.
Kirishima stared intensely.
Nodded.
"…I'm not sure my brain can handle that."
Pause.
Then confidently—
"But sure!"
Cementoss stared.
Kuro gave a determined nod.
Kirishima nodded back.
Cementoss waited.
Nothing.
They had not listened.
Not even slightly.
A small silence followed.
Then Cementoss sighed.
"…Very well."
The entire city moved.
BOOOOOOOM.
The road erupted.
Concrete surged upward.
Walls.
Pillars.
Bridges.
Buildings connected.
Layer after layer.
The intersection transformed.
Streets disappeared.
Sightlines vanished.
The city folded inward.
Within seconds—
A massive structure emerged.
Towering.
Interlocking.
Reinforced.
A fortress.
Concrete walls stacked over each other into overlapping defensive layers.
High ground.
Limited entrances.
Narrow paths.
No direct approach.
Cementoss stood at the center.
Slowly rising upward.
His one weakness—
speed—
was erased.
He looked down at the students.
"A castle."
The walls thickened.
"You two excel at forcing engagement."
Another layer formed.
"So I will deny engagement."
The structure finally stabilized.
Now Cementoss stood nearly fifty meters above them.
Shielded.
Protected.
Untouchable.
Kirishima looked upward.
Quiet.
Kuro looked upward.
Quiet.
Cementoss waited.
They were probably reassessing.
Thinking.
Planning.
Kirishima turned.
"…Hey."
Kuro looked.
Kirishima pointed upward.
"Can you jump that?"
Kuro squinted.
"…Probably."
Kirishima nodded.
"Cool."
Cementoss paused.
Kuro pointed at himself.
Then pointed upward.
Then pointed at Kirishima.
Then made another incomprehensible gesture.
Kirishima gasped.
"Oh."
Nod.
"Got it."
Cementoss stared.
"…You understood that?"
Kirishima confidently crossed his arms.
"No."
Beat.
"But I trust him."
Cementoss suddenly had a bad feeling.
Kuro smiled.
Purple ki flickered faintly around his body.
Kirishima's skin hardened.
The two crouched.
Not retreating.
Not analyzing.
Not discouraged.
Just—
preparing.
Kuro looked over.
"Ready?"
Kirishima grinned.
His teeth sharpened under Hardening.
"Yeah."
Cementoss raised another wall.
"…Surely not."
Kuro pointed upward.
"We break the castle."
Kirishima cracked his neck.
"Then we punch the teacher."
And both launched forward at the same time.
Cementoss immediately created six more walls.
Something told him—
That would not be enough.