Numerous robots blocked their paths. Their red visors looked at the students coldly and aimed their weapons at them. One student passed the robots easily by transforming into a dragonfly.

"HE WENT AHEAD! HISAKAWA TAKES THE LEAD AS HE PASSES THE ROBOTS EASILY!", Present Mic commentated.

Daichi returned to his human form and continued running.

One of the giant robots fell as Kuroi attacked its legs using his tentacles. He then ran as fast as he could while taking down robots in his way. Runa and Nagai tried to go above the robots but they were targeted by missiles. Runa managed to take down a missile by shooting it down with her projectile feathers while Nagai splashed it with air. However, more missiles came after them forcing them to retreat for a while.

Every other student fought their own share of robots. A student extended his arm at a fast speed and crushed a robot. Sand covered a robot and was crushed by the sheer pressure of the compressed sand. Mitsuji shot fire at a robot and overheated it, causing it to explode.

"OH! WHAT IS THIS? A STUDENT IS RIDING A ROBOT AND CHASING AFTER THE TWO WHO ARE IN THE LEAD?"

The students saw a boy with short spiky black hair who was riding a flying robot. His name was Purorakodo Gemu. The boy's Quirk was Program. He can understand and rewrite codes within a radius around him. Also, he can talk to machines and make them do his bidding.

"Thanks for the ride", he said to the robot which beeped in reply. He was now in the third place.

"Now then, shoot 'em down!", Purorakodo told the robot and it shot missiles at Daichi and Kuroi.

They managed to avoid the missile.

One by one, the robots were defeated and one by one, the students ran. Mitsuji was around in the 20th place and that wasn't enough. From what he heard, the first round in the sports festival was the round where the most students get eliminated. That was why he had to do his best.

A tall and huge cliff loomed in front of them.

"THEY ARRIVED AT THE SECOND OBSTACLE, CLIFF CLIMB RACING! WATCH AS THEY CONQUER THIS STEEP CLIFF!", Present Mic announced.

The cliff stood 15 meters tall. Everyone already felt their arms going sore knowing that they have no choice but to climb it.

Daichi turned into a dragonfly again and started flying.

"Kufufufu. This is nothing", Kuroi said and climbed up using his tentacles.

He stabbed the cliff using his tentacles and hoisted himself up. Repeating this method, he steadily climbed up.

Purorakodo arrived at the cliff and flew up with his robot. Runa and Nagai fell behind because they dealt with most of the missiles but when they arrived at the second obstacle, they gained their lead back since they were flying (or swimming in Nagai's case).

Mitsuji finally arrived at the cliff.

Think! If I were to climb this normally, I would lose too much time. And I need to be in the front if I want to win! Tenshi and Tokuhei easily conquered this, Hisakawa and Niriyama. Think!, Mitsuji thought.

Then it struck him. He touched the ground and focused.

1…2…

The ground below him rose up and elevated him.

"SAIGA SURPRISES US AGAIN. HE RAISED HIMSELF UP WITH A PILLAR OF EARTH!"

The earth pillar which elevated him reached the height of the cliff. Mitsuji jumped towards the top of the cliff and started descending downhill. Kuroi and Daichi managed to climb up just in time to see Mitsuji running downwards.

"MITSUJI IS IN THE LEAD!", Present Mic announced and the crowd went wild.

"Kufufufufu! I won't let you get first place, Saiga!", Kuroi shouted.

"….", Daichi glared at him.

Purorakodo arrived and was gaining speed.

Runa and Nagai caught up to them and flew just behind the four. The other students finished climbing up the cliff and chased after them.

Keep calm! Keep calm! You made it this far!, Mitsuji thought as he desperately ran.

However, he got hit from behind and when he looked back, it was one of Kuroi's red tentacles. Mitsuji fell to the ground and Daichi, Kuroi, Purorakodo, Runa and Nagai went pass him. He immediately got up.

"Damn it!", he ran.

1…2…

A wall made up of earth emerged behind him and blocked the path of the other students. Because it was made hastily, the wall wouldn't hold for too long but he had to buy as much time as he could.

"THE LEAD RETURNS TO HISAKAWA WITH NIRIYAMA RIGHT BEHIND HIM!"

Kuroi was trying hard to get the lead from Daichi by attacking relentlessly with his tentacles but Daichi dodged them all. Kuroi was no longer smiling nor laughing when he attacked Daichi. He was getting serious.

An exploding bullet hit Kuroi's tentacle. Both of them stopped and saw a field filled with turrets.

"THEY FINALLY ARRRIVED AT THE LAST OBSTACLE! NO MAN'S LAND! WITH EXPLOSIVE BULLETS COMING OUT OF THOSE GUNS, THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME CROSSING TO THE FINISH LINE! BUT DON'T WORRY LISTENERS! THE EXPLOSIVE BULLETS WILL ONLY STING!", Present Mic announced.

Daichi transformed into a human-sized centipede which caused some screams from the females in the audience. He allowed the explosive bullets to hit his exoskeleton.

Meanwhile, Kuroi wrapped his tentacles around him. The explosive bullets just hit his tentacles and didn't even faze him.

Purorakodo was flying high when his robot was hit by an explosive bullet. He told the robot to fire missiles at the turrets while protecting him. Runa got hit and was shot down. She then shielded herself with her wings and ran. Nagai, however, fell behind as he one by one destroyed the turrets.

No Man's Land was the final obstacle. It was designed to balance out the race. Those who are in the lead would have to destroy the turrets and waste time while those who were behind would catch up. The optimal way out of the obstacle was to defend one's self while walking even if that would slow them down.

Mitsuji arrived at the last obstacle and gulped down. Bullets were flying everywhere and his classmates were having a hard time. He steeled himself and ran. The first bullet hit him and exploded. It stung but he didn't stop running.

I don't have a choice!, Mitsuji said as he was getting hit over and over again.

He touched the ground with his hands.

1…2…

The ground shook and cracks appeared in the ground as the turrets fell into the newly-formed craters. Mitsuji panted and started running. His body was stiff but he didn't give up.

"WHAT IS THIS? SAIGA DESTROYED ALL OF THE TURRETS IN ONE MOVE! WHAT IS HE?!"

Mitsuji felt pain as he ran. His body was too stiff. It might've been a stupid move to destroy all the turrets at once since some people were passing him.

"FIRST PLACE! DAICHI HISAKAWA!"

Not yet…, Mitsuji thought as he heard people running behind him.

"SECOND PLACE! KUROI NIRIYAMA!"

I can't give up yet!

"THIRD PLACE! PURORAKODO GEMU!"

Senpai believed in me! I will not fail!, he passed the gate.

He looked around and saw 9 people.

That must mean… I'm 10th?, he asked.

He panted.

They were given time to rest after the first event and everyone in Class 1-A were in 1-A's waiting room. Mitsuji returned from the restroom and entered the waiting room. He felt the intense pressure from his classmate's stares at him. His body was still a bit stiff but he felt his knees getting weak from nervousness.

"Saiga! What was that at the last obstacle? You were that powerful after all?", Jacob asked.

"I was right about you. You can actually do great things", Kai said.

"T-Thanks", Mitsuji replied. He wasn't used to being praised.

Daichi then stood up abruptly and everyone looked at him.

"Mitsuji Saiga. You didn't do much at the first combat training. You were nervous and didn't look much of a threat. But… know this, I will not lose to you", the quiet Daichi spoke up.

Kuroi looked at the two quietly while Mitsuji felt nervous. The strongest one and the first placer issued a declaration of war against him. Daichi was about to leave but…

"Yeah. I'm a nervous wreck. I don't look much of a threat. And if sometimes, I faint because of girls", Mitsuji replied.

Mitsuji remembered her words. She clearly said that he would be a strong and wonderful hero. He thought of his senpai, Momo Yaoyorozu.

"But I will do my best! I will not hold back! Because someone is believing in me!", he declared.

Daichi's eyes widened for a split second. Kuroi chuckled. The competition was on.