Izuku Midoriya charged forward and quickly reached the second stage: a high-wire crossing.
The ground below had been hollowed out, leaving scattered platforms connected only by thin wires.
"This is a perfect moment to show off! How will our current leader, Izuku Midoriya, handle this?!" Present Mic's voice rang across the stadium.
"Now's not the time to slow down!!!"
Izuku pushed off the ground and leapt, landing cleanly on one of the platforms.
"Keep going! Keep going!!!"
He was completely fired up, moving like he'd been injected with adrenaline. Sprinting and jumping in rapid succession, Izuku crossed the remaining platforms and reached solid ground.
"No stopping yet!"
He dashed straight toward the third stage.
"AMAZING!!! Midoriya clears the second stage in first place again—and he's widened the gap between himself and second-place Shoto Todoroki!" Present Mic announced excitedly.
"Tch… he's fast."
Sliding along the wire using his Quirk, Shoto Todoroki clenched his teeth as he watched Izuku pulling farther ahead. He increased his speed—
But suddenly—
"TRASH!!! You think I'm out of this?!"
Katsuki Bakugo blasted overhead with explosive force, overtaking Todoroki.
"THE RANKINGS HAVE CHANGED!!! Second place has been taken by Katsuki Bakugo!!! He's surged past Todoroki in one go!!! This is insane!!!"
Final Stage: Minefield
"And now, our leader has reached the final stage—THE MINEFIELD!!!"
"Landmines are scattered everywhere! They won't injure you—but they'll definitely scare the life out of you!!!"
"That depends on the person," Aizawa Shouta muttered calmly from the sidelines, still wrapped in bandages.
"Oh! Our first-place runner has stopped! What is he doing?! The others are catching up!!!"
Izuku stood at the edge of the minefield, taking rapid, short steps in place—like a sprinter revving up before launch.
"Both second and third place have arrived at the minefield!!! What are you waiting for, Midoriya?! Don't you want to win?!"
"As long as I'm fast enough… the mines won't even go off!!!"
With that shout, Izuku burst forward.
His speed was so extreme that he stepped across the mines faster than they could react.
"Forty kilometers… BURST!!!"
His velocity surged again.
Even the tracking cameras struggled to follow him.
"He's unbelievably fast!" Todoroki immediately created an ice path across the minefield, gliding over it.
"TRASH!!!" Bakugo roared, blasting forward with explosions, chasing after Izuku.
Explosions and bursts of pink smoke trailed behind them as the three raced neck-and-neck.
"THE TOP THREE ARE ALL FROM CLASS 1-A!!! Eraser Head, your class is incredible! How did you train them?!"
"I didn't. They just push each other," Aizawa replied flatly.
"THE FINAL 100 METERS!!! AND THE FIRST TO RETURN TO THE STADIUM IS—IZUKU MIDORIYA!!!"
Izuku burst through the entrance and into the arena.
"I'M FIRST!!!"
He stood there, drenched in sweat, shouting at the top of his lungs.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
In the stands, All Might pressed his palms together.
I was worried about you… I'm sorry for doubting you.
A few minutes later, the rest of the students began to arrive.
Only the top 42 advanced.
Those eliminated were dismissed by Midnight with theatrical sympathy.
Second Event Announcement
"Now that 42 participants remain," Midnight announced, "we move on to the next event!"
"The real competition begins now! And the media is watching even more closely—so give it everything you've got!!!"
The screen spun again.
Horseback riding… it cycles every three years…
"It's this—THE CAVALRY BATTLE!!!"
Yes… I guessed it.
But then—
"…And first place is worth TEN MILLION points!"
"…I'm screwed."
Izuku froze.
Every eye in the stadium locked onto him.
The pressure was immediate—and crushing.
"Teams will now be formed. You have 15 minutes!"
I need allies. Strong ones.
Izuku quickly looked around—and spotted Fumikage Tokoyami.
"Tokoyami, will you join my team?"
"Of course… Dark Master."
"Good. Then we need one more—someone who can keep us airborne…"
"Ochaco, do you have a team yet?"
"Not yet! Do you have space?"
"Yeah. I need someone who can make us lighter."
Suddenly, a girl in unusual attire rushed up to him.
"Let me join your team! First place!!!"
"Whoa—don't just appear out of nowhere! Who are you?!"
"I'm from the Support Course. I want to borrow your ranking."
Time flew by.
Teams were formed.
Izuku wore a headband displaying his massive score:
10,000,325 points
"Three! Two! One—START!!!"
Cavalry Battle Begins
The moment the match started, multiple teams charged toward Izuku.
"Tch… prepare for liftoff!"
Izuku pressed a button.
The jet unit on his back activated—
They rose into the air.
"Up here… this is my domain."
Izuku extended his hand.
Green electricity crackled, forming the shape of a bow.
An energy arrow materialized.
"Arrow One!"
He released it.
The projectile shot forward, striking a rider—
Hagakure Toru.
Her headband was blasted off and fell to the ground.
A shadow swooped in instantly to retrieve it—Tokoyami's Dark Shadow.
"Wha—what just happened?!"
"Is that a new ability?!" All Might watched in surprise.
This kid has more tricks than I thought…
"We're descending—get ready!"
Ochaco guided the team safely back to the ground.
"If they won't come to us—then I will!"
A Class B team charged in, followed closely by a team including Mezo Shoji and Minoru Mineta.
"Arrow Two!"
Two arrows fired in rapid succession—
One disrupted the Class B formation.
The other forced Shoji's team back.
"This won't hold—take off again!"
Izuku activated the jet once more.
They rose into the air again.
Only five minutes had passed.
"TRASH!!!"
Bakugo suddenly blasted upward, closing in fast.
His expression was ferocious—he was coming straight for Izuku.
"Kacchan—!"
Instinctively, Izuku shielded his headband.
A wave of shadows surged forward—
Tokoyami's Dark Shadow intercepting Bakugo mid-air.