Chapter 30 – Obstacles Race II
«Well, ladies and gentlemen. If the first obstacle was easy, what do you think of the second?!» Present Mic exclaimed elatedly «If you fall, you've lost! Or you can always try climbing!! This is The Fall!»
A huge canyon with several rock platforms connected by sturdy ropes offered more travel options before the students, who managed to outrun the robotic army.
Izuku noticed how Tsuyu advanced without too much trouble, making the most of her frog-girl characteristics.
«Hm?»
Suddenly, he sensed a strange tension rising from the Machine Spirit of "Aegis of Fortitude". Something that didn't happen, unless the Machine Spirit sensed a danger invisible to the eyes, but seeing how it had suddenly activated made him worry… and then made him giggle.
Mei Hatsume had appeared on screen, wearing several gadgets she appeared to have invented. As part of the support course, members of those classes can wear the equipment they want, as long as they built it.
Ah, it's that pervert's fault, huh? Izuku thought amused
«Something amusing you, Midoriya-san?» suddenly asked curious Midnight.
«No sensei.» he denied amusedly «Let's say Aegis of Fortitude has just revisited the origin of a trauma.»
Midnight looked at him, confused, but did not press on. She continued to watch the race. Meanwhile, Izuku whispered swift psalms of comfort in High Gothic to the Macchine Spirit, who was clearly on guard against Mei.
Having appeased the Machine Spirit, Izuku returned to watch the race. He saw many students fall from precarious balance. Others used every means available to overcome the obstacle. Ida, in particular, seemed comfortable using the power of the motors in his legs to slide along the ropes.
Currently, Shoto and Katsuki are leading the race, having already passed the canyon. His student, however, made an… interesting choice: despite having passed the army of robots, Melissa had welded the metal plate she had recovered from one of the scrapped robots to her back. In the absence of information, she uses a cautious approach, huh? We'll see what happens.
Even without taking his eyes off the race, he gathered useful information from the audience. Intrigued by Shoto, who was leading the race, they praised him for his powerful Quirk and his psycho-physical skills.
«He is the son of the Flame hero: Edeavour.» one spectator stated.
«Oohhh… now I understand! It's all thanks to the blood of Japan's second strongest hero, then!»
Hmm. I doubt blood can give him all those advantages. Izuku thought, amused and annoyed at the same time But it's clear that he has… bad blood with his father, given how he called him.
«And now the leading players have reached the third hurdle!» said Present Mic «A nice minefield replicated from the Rambo 3 movie!»
Hearing what the third obstacle was, Izuku spun toward Midnight. She, noticing his surprised and cautious look, prepared to explain.
«Fufufu. Don't worry. They have been arranged so that they are visible if you are careful. Also, they are not lethal. They're just very loud.» she said, looking at him «At most, they might come out a little dazed.» She licked her lips sadistically.
«To be honest, Midnight-sensei, I was more surprised than worried.»
«Surprised? For the mines?» asked Midnight curiously
«After a battle against robots and a balance test, this seems all too easy to me. Even by my standards.» he said, looking back at the screen.
«Well, let's just say we didn't want our students to use up all their energy in the first round.» she said with amusement.
«Personally speaking, this obstacle course is barely a warm-up.»
«Uao. If I didn't know your circumstances, I would have called you a braggart, Midoriya-san.» Midnight grinned.
«Incidentally, you just did it unconsciously, Midnight-sensei.»
Izuku's amused smile, coupled with the serious but playful response, made Midnight's lip lift. That smile, almost imperceptible, seemed to say: "You could have done better."
«You have to improve your jokes if you want to make a girl laugh.»
«The encouraging smile of a beautiful woman like you, sensei, is already a victory for a joke-blocker like me.» He smiled.
Izuku made that statement to confirm facts. After all, it is known that Midnight is the erotic dream of many men, thanks to her sensual and sinuous physique. Many, surely, will have tried several times to woo her. But for some reason, Midnight's brain interpreted that statement as Izuku's way of flirting with her, catching her by surprise and making her blush slightly.
«I didn't smile...» she whispered, adjusting a cowlick.
Bringing his eyes back to the race, Izuku noticed the true meaning of the minefield: it had slowed Shoto down significantly, allowing other students to catch up. Katsuki, on the other hand, used his explosions to clear mines without even touching the ground. If he wanted to win at all costs, Shoto would have to freeze the ground ahead, creating a safe path to avoid activating the mines. Izuku sighed, noticing his companion's tactical flaw. What's the point of leaving mines active to slow down those chasing you if others can overcome the obstacle faster? Ka-chan remains the usual hothead. Izuku hesitated, unsure how to react to Katsuki's mocking and aggressive tone as they vied for first place.
Shoto and Katsuki were now literally fighting over first place, ignoring everything around them. They could afford it, since everyone else was busy avoiding mines and kept several meters behind them.
BOOOOOOAM!!!
The sound of a powerful explosion drew Izuku's gaze, and what he saw brought a smile of fierce pride to his lips.
«A giant explosion at the beginning of the third obstacle?! How is this possible?!» asked with surprise and emphasis, Present Mic «Class 1A, Shield… is riding the shockwaves of the explosion?!»
Melissa, knowing that she could not reach Shoto and Katsuki using conventional methods, used exactly what no one had thought of doing, because they were too dependent on their Quirks: she gathered as many mines as possible and, using the metal plate she had brought with her as a shield and ramp, used the explosions to be launched at high speed towards the entrance.
The force of the shockwaves was enough to let Melissa catch up to the two litigants for first place. The two panicked and hurried, using their Quirks to the fullest, regardless of whether their actions would benefit those behind them. But Melissa had foreseen it. Using the centrifugal force generated, she took the metal plate for the electrical cables that were still firmly on it and struck the ground again, detonating more mines and, at the same time, generating a smokescreen that blinded both Katsuki and Shoto, while she was thrown forward a few meters.
That girl… is proving to be a real satisfaction to teach.
«In no time, Shield cleared the third hurdle and threw smoke in the eyes of all the competitors!» Present Mic widened his eyes «Damn, Eraserhead! Your class is absurd!! What exactly are you teaching them?!»
«I have nothing to do with it. This is the fruit of their hard work and determination.»
«Whoo~ey, who would have ever thought of such an outcome?!» asked Presenti Mic, ignoring Shota's statement.
«You're ignoring me, aren't you?»asked Shota, annoyed
«The girl who came back first to the arena, it's nothing but: MELISSA SHIIIEEEEELD!!!»
Melissa walked past the arena entrance, dust and sweat coating her, her breathing laboured, but her eyes filled with security.
As other students entered the arena after her, Izuku noticed that Melissa was looking for someone among the spectators. When she saw her adoptive uncle Yagi, her eyes and smile seemed to scream, "I did it!"
Well done, girl. thought Izuku, satisfied Really well done…
«Oh, what do I see…» said Midnight, amused, recovering from her thoughts «That looks like a proud smile you've put on your face, Midoriya-san.»
«What else should I feel, Midnight-sansei?» Izuku asked amusedly «I'm glad these two weeks have been of any use. However… she still has a lot to learn. Fufufufu» ending with a sadistic laugh.
That laugh gave both Midnight and Melissa chills, even though Melissa hadn't heard his statement.