Mic's commentary boomed out some more. "THE FIRST ROUND'S OBSTACLE COURSE IS UNDERWAY! AND THE GOAL IS TO RUN ONE LAP AROUND THIS SPECIAL MADE STADIUM'S OUTER RING! THE RULES ARE SIMPLE - AND SAVAGE! ASIDE FROM LEAVING THE COURSE, THIS IS A BONA FIDE RACE WHERE EVERYTHING GOES! THE CAMERA BOTS INSTALLED IN EACH AREA CAN BARELY CONTAIN THEIR EXCITEMENT!"

As I was working on creating the ideal weapon to end the robots, my classmates were forging on ahead of me, busting through the obstacles in front of them without hesitation.

"AS EXPECTED OF THSOE WHO'VE MADE IT PAST, LOTS ARE FROM CLASS A!" came more commentary as my creation completed.

"It's not that the other departments of Class B aren't any good," said Mr. Aizawa's voice. "It's just that Class A's learned not to hesitate. They've seen what the real world holds, and they've come to know what it is to be instilled with true fear. They coped and made it out in one piece, and now their experience has become a source of encouragement, drowning out their doubt and hesitation."

You haven't seen anything yet. The cannon was fully completed, taken aim, and the cannonball hit the targets. The robots toppling. And a path opened up for me and everyone around me.

As I reached the other side…

"WELL THEN, IF THE FIRST BARRIER WAS A CINCH, WHADDYA THINK OF THE SECOND? YOU FALL AND YOU'RE OUT! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA MAYBE YOU CAN CRAWL! IT'S THE FALLLL!"

"IT'S TRUE THAT THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORN IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS, RIGHT ERASERHEAD?"

"What are those idiots doing just standing around?" came the musing voice of our Sense in response.

A few creations made it easy to get across the fall, though I was starting to wonder if I had enough reserves for this.

"THE PLAYERS IN THE LEAD ARE SEPARATED FROM THOSE BUNCHED UP BEHIND! BUT WON'T SAY HOW MANY ARE PULLING AHED, SO DON'T GET COMPLACENT AND KEEP GOING FORWARD! AND NOW WE COME TO THE HIDDEN FINAL BARRIER! IT'S TRUE FORM IS NONE OTHER THAN - THE MINE FIELD! IT'S SET UP SO THAT IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LANDLINES ARE! STRAIN YOUR EYES AND FEET! IN ANY CASE THEY'RE LANDLINES, NOT OVERLY LETHAL BUT THEY BANG BIG AND BRIGHT!"

As I picked my way across the mine field, trying to think up a strategy, a shout from behind me told me that Minoru Mineta had jumped at me. Before I could react, he'd landed stuck with his quirk on my back.

Then from behind us came an explosion. One far bigger than any I'd heard before, from the small mines, or from Bakugou - a gigantic blast of energy like a bomb had gone off.

"A GIANT EXPLOSION NEAR HTE ENTRANCE?! WHY WAS THAT BANG SO BIG?! WAS IT HIS PLAN OR SHEER COINCIDENCE? CLASS A'S MIDORIYA MOUNTS HIS CHARGE - USING SHOCK WAVES?" Mic cried. As I turned, attempting to expunge Mineta, I saw he was right. Izuku Midoriya, flying straight at us, overcoming the minefield in an instant.

"IN NO TIME AT ALL MIDORWYA BLEW DUST IN THEIR EYES, AND NOW HE'S CLEARED THE LANDLINE AREA ENTIRELY! DAMMIT EARSERHEAD, YOUR CLASS IS INSANE?! WHAT'RE YOU TEACHING THEM?"

"I didn't do anything. This is all the fruit of the fires they lit in each other."

Fire - right! Minute or no Mineta, I have to move! I have to - I Have to…

"WHOEVER COULD'VE PREDICTED THIS OUTCOME WHEN THE TRIAL BEGAN? THE ONE WHO RETURNED TO HTE STADIUM IS NONE OTHER THAN - MIDORIYA IZUKU! HIS WILL BE A NAEM TO KNOW!"

"I - can't believe it…I…." I stumbled into the stage, feeling like I was about to throw up.

"Two birds with one stone!" gloated the little monster on my back. "I'm a genius!"

"You're the worst," I moaned.

17th. 17th place, so far behind. Midoriya, that strange little classmate of mine, the last place student in the first test our class had taken, had beaten me. Todoroki, the second placer in that test and the recommendations, was in 2nd. And 15 others ahead of me.

It's Mineta's fault. That's all. i didn't fail - did i?

Midnight announced, "The 42 at the top have earned the right to advance. I'm sorry for the kids who failed, bu take heart. The festival's show-stopper is still being prepared. And now fro the post-preliminaries, the final selection! From here on out, even the press corps will teem in a white heat of excitement, so go all out. now then, onto today's heart-pounding second event! I already know what it will be but the suspense is killing me! And what will it be? Behold!" The sign displayed said "Human cavalry Battle" You can all form 2-4 person teams freely and form a horse-back configuration! Basically it's the same rules as a normal human cavalry battle: Swipe enemy riders' headbands and guard your own, except for one thing. Everyone will receive points based on their performance in the last trial!"

"Which means the point value of each team will change based on who's in it," said Ashido.

"DON'T INTERRUPT!" Yelled Midnight. "But yes, that's right, and the number of points you're worth will be 5 points if you placed 42nd, 10 if you placed 41st, 15th for 40th and so on, with the exception of 1st place, whose head is worth TEN MILLION!"

As if a collective whole, we all turned to look at him at these words. If you were to head for him, this will be the chance for the rest to supplant him. Midoriya looked absolutely terrified, sweating and nervous as though hit just now with the pressure of being #1.