It had been a week since Izukus training had begun for the UA sports festival, All Might had taken it upon himself to make sure he would be prepared for anything that he would face. He had also tested how much Izuku could do when pushed to the limits.
The spar between them was one to see Izuku while losing had made All Might work up a sweat until he decided to get serious, and then proceeded to beat Izuku to the ground…..well they were able to find out Izuku could control about 15% of One for All, which a staggering increase from the 5% he could a month back.
They also found that his Aether had upped his body to handle the damage he endured almost regularly. He also began to work One For All into this Magic, which seemed to act like an amplifier to what he could do. All Might had given him a day off since he said he had to meet up with someone who could teach Izuku better than he ever could. Of course, Izuku had argued saying that he was at the level he was only because of Toshinori. Which of course had made Toshinori proud that his student thought so much of him.
And so we find Izuku, Momo, Uraraka and Iida at the local burger place.
"You know Izuku, I'm pretty sure you don't even have to train. You could fight us all off with one hand tied behind your back." Uraraka grumbled.
Momo and Iida seemed to agree with her, which sent Izuku to chuckle a bit awkwardly.
"Yea Izuku, I mean the only challenge you have are maybe Todoroki and Bakugou. Even then I'm pretty sure that you could still win." Momo said
"Yes, I agree with what they say Midoriya. You three are leagues above where we are." Iida added his two cents.
Izuku sweatdropped at how they had placed him on such a big pedestal. He looked at the three who had become his best friends, with a nod he promised himself to make sure that he help them as much as he could.
"You know guys, the reason I'm this strong is because I know the best ways to use my quirk and maximize my capabilities with it."
Once he had their attention he turned to Iida,
"Iida your quirk is "Engine" which gives you super speed, so my advice is to develop a fighting style revolving around using your speed to overwhelm your opponent with your speed and by scoring well timed hits or a fighting style which uses your speed to evade all of your opponent's strikes and then when he is exhausted finish him off. And you could increase the damage of your strikes my timing the activation of your quirk so that your kicks would literally hit at unblockable speeds."
Iida seemed stupefied that Izuku gave him such good advice, especially when this could be used against Izuku himself.
"Uraraka, your quirk is special mostly because if your limit which seems to be 3 tonnes, is crossed you could potentially be able to lift anything. And I'd say that if you practice hand to hand combat along with increasing your speed so that you could touch someone faster to activate your quirk. There is also the fact that you could use the weightlessness of the objects like ammo to throw at your opponent. Speed will get you far and I'm pretty sure that you're very flexible so why not Parkour?" Uraraka listened in rapt attention to every word Izuku spoke and ended up blushing a bit at the end, which went unnoticed by the boys but not by Momo who puffed her cheeks a bit.
"Momo, your quirk is much more complex than my quirks "construct" aspect. You are pretty much capable of a lot of things, you ranked just below me in the Quirk Apprehension test which means you are pretty much perfect physically and you are the smartest person in class. I'd recommend fighting with weapons, swords particularly dual wielding might suit you, I know that you are proficient with a Bo staff too. The best thing you should do is push past your physical limits, practice reducing the time it takes for you take to create anything and my best advice for you is this
'If you ever come across an opponent you can't beat... imagine a weapon that can.' (FSN reference)
keep that in mind and I'm sure you'll do great." Momo noted every point Izuku told her, blushing whenever he complimented her, which of course only caught Urarakas attention as the boys continued to remain oblivious.
It was only when Izuku finally finished, did he notice the looks he was getting from his companions. Izuku sweat a bit as he saw their piercing gazes. Iida was the first to speak up,
"To think that you would be able to formulate such helpful advice for us without us even telling you about our training or quirks and to deduce the best mode to progress our training...truly Izuku you are a great tactician and an even greater friend" at the end of his statement Iida had anime tears coming out of his eyes.
Momo and Uraraka simply looked at him with a blush and sputtered out their thanks. Izuku oblivious to their dilemma simply left it at that, before telling them that they were friends and friends look out for each other.
They then agreed that there would be no more talks of training for the rest of the day and they will use this day to have fun before having to throw themselves into training. They finished their lunch before going to the arcade, where they challenged each other in games, where they found Iida to be great at dancing, and they also found Momo was as good a marksman as Izuku and Uraraka having quite a good reflex too.
They continued go to places such as the park, simply enjoying the day without having any worries. Soon it was about to be nighttime, and time for them to depart. Iida left to his families office which was nearby, Momo said that she was getting picked up by her driver and suggested that she could drop them which was politely declined by both Uraraka and Izuku. As the car came to the park entrance, Momo bid goodbye to both of them and walked a few steps before turning around and giving Izuku a hug and running to the car sputtering.
Izuku of course was of course surprised by the gesture and thinking nothing of it hugged her back , and of course Uraraka was giving a death glare at the retreating car, while gritting her teeth while cursing about having the first move taken from her.
As they both walked in silence to Uraraka's house, where halfway through Izuku asked her on why she why she wanted to be a hero. She responded a bit shamefully that she wanted to be a hero so that she could get rich and let her parents lead an easy life, as she explained the situation to Izuku, instead of a disapproving look she expected to receive. Izuku told her that her goal was noble no matter what anyone said, and that among all of them he felt that she was the most grounded. They stood in front of her apartment with Izuku giving her a bright smile.
Izuku was then subjected to another scenario where Uraraka hugged him and ran towards her home yelling that she was happy that he believed in her.
(Training ground 2 weeks later)
Two blurs were seen in the underground training ground at UA, engaged in close combat. Then suddenly the larger blur was bathed in gold and overpowered the smaller blur, that is until it suddenly vanished from view and appeared behind the golden one. A kick to back of the larger one sent it flying towards the walls where it crashed into it. But before the smoke could settle there was a burst of red and gold before the blur was in front of a short old man wearing an old superhero costume, with another bout of combat it was the now he who was the one sent flying, but was back into the fight without even stopping.
Toshinori watched on as his mentor duked it out with his student. While Izuku had the upper hand against his mentor physically, Gran Torinos quick thinking and experience gave Izuku a very hard time. He introduced them two weeks ago for the sole purpose of Izuku getting a challenge as well as for him to gain experience with a sparring partner who wasn't All Might. It worked out pretty well, by Torinos prediction Izuku should be able to reach 25% before the UA sports festival.
There was one last collision and Toshinori's old mentor was tossed back. Izuku stood in the middle of the ground, wearing a sleeveless version of his hero costume (Archer's clothes from Fate minus the Shroud of Martin). He was breathing heavily, and had a few bruises which were fast healing. He walked up to Gran Torino and initiated his healing abilities, his golden colour eyes gaining a bit more shine in them.
"You picked a good apprentice, Toshinori," Torino said, relishing the feeling his non aching back. "Fighting him is giving me a good chance to work these muscles, he's a genius at this. He also has an instinctual control over One For All now. Which is good, and not to mention his other Quirk. Ever since that first beatdown I gave him, he's kept on improving."
Izuku walked up to both of them, his eyes returning to their usual Molten gold. While exhausted he had a smile in his face.
"Sensei, how'd I do?"
"You reminded me of myself Izuku, but you are more capable than what I could ever do." Toshinori said. "You were able to give my sensei a run for his money, which means you should have a great chance in the festival."
"But, your power won't help you if you get overconfident and underestimate your opponents. And not to mention that you have to keep an eye out for any villains that may attack you at your weakest.." Gran Torino said.
"I'd say you're ready right now and there's still a week left, but keep the other "mode" as a last resort. While it does make you more powerful, the resemblance to your other transformation at the USJ would cause too much problems."
"I agree," Toshinori said.
"Keep to the moves you've remastered and your new ones especially that air jump and speed skill. And most importantly….make sure you have fun."
"I'll make you proud, All Might," Izuku said, his eyes glowing with determination.
"Well then Izuku I think it's time we made the finishing touches on your entire moveset and your fighting style shouldn't we?" With that Toshinori turned into his All Might form and jumped to the middle of the ground getting Izuku to do the same.
Izuku grinned as he closed his eyes, and the moment he opened them the colour was now a bright gold filled with power….
"Let's go wild Sensei!"
In a burst of magic he already covered half the distance between them hand outstretched.
(Timeskip- Night before Festival)
Izuku let out a sigh as he rested on the couch, he had been told to rest for the day so as to be at his best tomorrow. He had talked to his friends and they all have him good news as they said they had improved leaps and bounds compared to their level a month ago.
They had also made a lot of breakthroughs that each promised would surprise him, Izuku had also told them that his training was fruitful as well. They had agreed to meet up at the stadium together so that they could have a familiar face to calm their nerves.
Izuku thought about the competition, in the hero course was mix of diverse and powerful quirks. In his research on the past UA festivals it always followed the same structure. A qualifier, a team event and then one on one fights, the qualifiers are basically an every man for himself event, which would mean that everyone would be put against each other. In the team event, he had already told his friends if they were willing to team up with him, this of course got Momo scolding him about how that they would always have Izukus back, Iida and Uraraka agreed too and the one on ones were pretty self explanatory.
Izuku stared at the ceiling, listening to some music so as to distract him from all the pressure.
(UA Stadium)
The Sports Festival Stadium, resembling the old Olympic stadium in pretty much every detail was built to house over a thousand spectators. While the third year competition is traditionally the most popular, the USJ attack had drawn the public's attention to the first year competition. It has also caused an increase in security, including a higher number of pro heroes in attendance than usual.
Izuku leaned back in his chair, watching his classmates trying to keep themselves bus, in fact even his friends were a bit nervous. Their prep room had been well stocked with simple furniture and water bottles. He took a deep breath to calm himself, it wasn't rational to get worried now. He would have to prove himself in the festival.
"Midoriya," Todoroki said. The heterochromatic boy stood in front of Izuku's chair. "I look forward to facing you in this tournament. You have proved that you are truly strong at the USJ, while I know it wasn't a conscious effort, the fact that you have that much power serves to showcase your chance at #1. Isn't that right?"
"I guess you're right...most of us... including myself are aiming for #1. We'll settle it at the festival, won't we?" Izuku said, a grin on his face.
Shoto simply had a small smile,
"Yea, I guess so.." with that he left.
Momo turned to Izuku,
" He considers you a rival…. well I should not be surprised"
Izuku nodded, but before he could reply he heard the announcement for them to prepare for the entrance, looking around he saw his classmates were still a bit overwhelmed by the pressure.
Izuku walked up to the door and turned to the class, he clapped to gain everyone's attention.
"I'm not really sure what to say in this situation….but I feel as though I should tell you this, the festival while important isn't worth getting anxious over. The most important thing about the festival is to have fun, you shouldn't have to think that there is a guillotine over your head. Just do your best guys, don't sweat the small stuff." Izuku saw that his classmates looked a bit better than before, while not at a 100% it was enough.
Soon enough, Class 1-A was led to the northernmost gate onto the stadium's floor. They listened to Present Mic's welcoming speech until he said, "And now the athletes! First is this festival's favorites! The students who fought off a villain attack on the USJ with incredible power, From Heroic Course, Class A!" They emerged from the gate and stepped out onto the grass field. Izuku in front of his class, head held up high. He looked to where the pros were sitting and stared determinedly.
"Following them is Heroic Course Class B, and then Classes C, D, and E from General Studies! Classes F, G, and H from the Support Course! And of course, the Business Courses! I, J and K!" Present Mic finished as the students congregated on the stadium grounds. A stage rose from the ground and a female hero dressed in leather and latex walked on.
"We're going to begin with the Athlete's Oath!" Midnight, the R-Rated Hero shouted.
"Your student representative is Midoriya Izuku of Class 1-A!"
Izuku walked up to the platform and stood in front of the mic.
"The sports festival is an event designed for the next generation to prove that they are strong to carry on the legacy left behind by their predecessors. It is a chance for us to prove that we are capable of carrying the torch passed on each generation and to lead us to a better future. And now on this stage, all of us here have no barriers, whether they be from the Hero course, the General, or support or business. The fact is we are here to prove ourselves...and we will give our best!"
With that Izuku walked away from the mic after giving a bow to the crowd, he was greeted by smiles from the students of all courses.
"Well, now that's over," Midnight said, voice filled with pride.
"Let's get going! The first event is the qualifier where dreams are crushed and many of you will be sent home crying! This year's event is…!" She pointed at the large screen, which flashed and showed "OBSTACLE COURSE"
"The first preliminary event is an obstacle race between all eleven first-year classes, through a near 4 km long course around the stadium. Aside from leaving the course, participants were allowed to do anything. The first 42 students to finish the race will earn the right to advance and participate in the next event. So best of luck kids!"
Izuku watched as everyone stood in formation and the gate of the stadium, the first test was designed to weed out the competition, by pitting themselves against each other. Izuku looked at the narrow pathway and suddenly it hit him. Ignoring the whistle Izuku ran back and let the others pass him, which caused some commotion in the audience especially among the pros.
Izuku then focused the max amount of One for All he could control into a single jump golden lightning seemed to erupt from his body, and taking EVERYONE by surprise he reached ¾ of the entire wall and then shot a chain which he pulled to propel him to the top. He looked to see ice creeping up from the door, knowing that Todoroki must have the competition, Izuku once again used One for All to pass the crowd and even passing Todoroki.
(At the commenters box)
"AIZAWA! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN FEEDING THAT KID!" Present Mic screamed.
Aizawa simply gave a smirk and replied,
"Midoriya Izuku, is one unique character he was the first in the Entrance exam and also played a huge part in the USJ along with Todoroki and Bakugou. I wouldn't be surprised if they completely blew us away with their skills." His voice laced with pride.
(With Todoroki)
As Todoroki looked up and saw a green yellow blur pass him he knew that it was Izuku, deciding to kick it up a notch but before he could he saw movement far up ahead, and at the edge of his vision he saw huge robots blocking the way. He also noticed that Izuku had slowed as well, taking his chance he used his quirk to boost him forward.
"Icicle road"
Ice shot from his feet giving him a boost that only left him a few metres behind Izuku, while simultaneously slowing the competition down.
As Izuku stared down the robots, he knew that he'd have finish them to keep his lead. He raised his arm much like he was throwing a spear and shouted
"Battle arts : Heavenly Spear"
A bright spear formed in his arm and as it was thrown and struck the robot a violent explosion rocked the area,
Todoroki on the other hand formed a tidal wave of ice to destroy the robots, this lead to the robots to be frozen unbalanced, causing it to topple over the other athletes, while many evaded it mostly from the Hero course. Those in the General studies classes were unable to, and just when the robot was about to crash on them,
"Battle arts : Holy Smite"
An eruption of gold energy destroyed the robot into pieces which harmlessly flew to the sides,
They turned to see Izuku with a palm outstretched, and the students gave him a sincere smile.
(Commenter box)
"Wow, that Todoroki kid sure packs a punch to be able to freeze so many robots at once, and that too without an effort. Although he should be mindful of the collateral damage he may cause. But then again Izuku shines again rescuing the students from injury!"
Aizawa simply tsked
"Todoroki is fighting to win, he is on a different level than most. Which is why he is gunning for first. And it seems Midoriya has dropped to 10th place, with most of those who passed being from the Hero course, let's see what he'll do next…"
(With Izuku)
Izuku tsked at losing his lead, but his hero complex (lol) refused to let him leave them helpless. He saw that Todoroki was about to begin the rope stage. Izuku decided to bust some moves. Izuku focused Aether to his soles and burst past 2 people ahead of him, the moment his feet touched the ground he used another burst to propel him forward onto the edge of the rope putting him in 5th place.
He saw that Todoroki and Bakugou were head to head but seemed to intent on sabotaging each other, while trying to evade the mines. With barely a kilometre between them and 1st place Izuku knew he'd have to do something drastic. Flooding his legs with OFA he ran to the mine field and a few feet from the mine field he used Aether to give him a major boost putting him in the air past both Todoroki and Bakugou, who saw the threat and stopped trying to sabotage each other, Izuku knowing that they would overtake him easily decided to seal that chance off. He aimed his hand at the ground a few feet away from both of them and said
"Battle arts : Sword barrage"
Multiple swords struck the area in front of Bakugou and Todoroki blocking their progress, Izuku seeing his chance shot a chain at one of trees outside of the mine field and pulled himself channeling his magic. With just a 100 m between him and victory Izuku ran with his body augmented by his magic. Todoroki and Bakugou boosted their speed to catch up to him but it was all for naught as Izuku claimed first place.
First and foremost, I loved the support you guys gave me even if only a few did, that was enough for me. Second, I know this chapter was rushed it's just that I needed to get to the second event a bit faster.
Thank you for the support, and please continue to review.
