Following the directions, the duo found themselves in a sort of lecture hall and took their seats, Diego being stuck next to Bakugo and Midoriya on either side of him.
"Oh joy. The walking anger management case."
"What the hell did you call me?!"
The blonde gave no response, infuriating the Explosion wielder further. Before either of them could continue, a spotlight illuminated the podium at the back of the massive room.
"Welcome to my live show, examinees!" A man with sunglasses, a dark outfit, and a hair style that suggested he spent a fortune on gel and spray was smiling broadly at the audience. "Everybody say 'HEEEYYY!'"
There was only silence, until a single person in the audience stood up and shouted back, "HEEEYYY!"
The Pro who was giving the exam introductions was as bouncy as ever. "He gets it! Now then, I'll give you the low-down on how all of this will go down! Are you ready?!"
Up in the seats, Izuku was gushing with excitement. "Oh my gosh! Its the Voice Hero, Present Mic! I listen to his radio show every week! It's amazing that all the teachers at UA are all Pros."
His former friend growled, "shut up." The words earned him a surreptitious glare from the Stand User sitting next to him.
Present Mic continued as a massive projection filled the wall behind him. "You're all here to test your mettle in a series of ten minute practice battles in a bunch of replica cities! When we're all done here, head to the designated spots provided to you!"
Diego looked at the card, specifying he was to head to site B. He glanced at his neighbor's printed destinations. Evidently, the heir of the Brando line was to compete directly against the hothead.
"Looks like we're divided so we aren't around our friends," Izuku said, having copied Diego's investigating.
Bakugo scoffed. "Shame. I was looking forward to crushing you."
Diego's eyes narrowed. Oh, to live in the times of the wild west. I could tie you to a rope attached to my saddle and just keep on riding along, dragging you until you are nothing but a pelvis.
"Once in your battles," Present Mic went on, "there'll be three different types of villains for all of you to go up against! They'll be worth a certain amount of points based on how tough they are! Break one using your Quirk (or Stand), and you get said points! Your main goal to get the high score! Oh, and don't even think about attacking your fellow examinees or other villainous things! Got it?!"
As Diego mourned his sadistic fantasy, a muscular would-be student with dark hair and glasses stood up from his spot a few rows in front of him. "Excuse me, might I ask a question?" Before the Voice Hero could respond, the young man continued and held up a piece of paper. "On the handout we all were given, there are clearly four types of villains listed! Is this a sort of error? We are all here to fund guidance at the paragon of education in heroics! Such a mistake tarnishes the reputation of UA!" He then turned around glared at Izuku. "And you with the messy hair!"
The newest holder of One For All began to slightly panic. "M-m-me?!"
"Your muttering is distracting! Stop!"
The mystery voice from a moment ago, who answered Present Mic's heed for a "hey" returned with a less playful tone. "Why don't you stop, cavone?!" Izuku, his friend, and Bakugo looked over and spotted a male teenager with long sandy-blonde hair standing up. "Don't go and give us orders like you're our boss!"
With his smile still on his lips, Present Mic alleviated the two youngsters. "Okay, okay! Lemme explain! The fourth type of enemy isn't worth anything, and rampages when surrounded! All but unstoppable!"
Diego pondered on that. This is basically a giant video game. The D'Arby brothers would love this.
"I see..." the bespectacled one bowed deeply. "I apologize for being rude!"
The Voice Hero laughed. "Well, that's enough from me! I'll leave you all to your physical exams! As a wise man once said, 'a true hero never stops overcoming the misfortunes in life!' Now then, onto the main event! PLUS ULTRA!"
XXXXXXXXX
Izuku gazed at the massive wall separating him and his peers from the arena where they would wreck everything in sight. "It's massive! Like a whole city!"
"Yeah. Smashing it is gonna a real good outlet," a voice said behind him. The greenette recognized the accent and turned around to see the same blonde who had stood up for him back at the auditorium.
Izuku looked at his new acquaintance and deducted that he was European. The formerly Quirkless boy took note of the two slings on his waist, each holding a metal sphere the size of baseballs. They were green in color and had several grooves in them. He remade eye contact. "Thank you! For what you did back there! I'm Midoriya Izuku."
"Zeppeli. And good luck, short-stack." He walked off closer to the gateway.
"Short-stack?" Midoriya repeated. "I'm not that small... am I?"
XXXXXXXXX
"Just wait, blondie," Bakugo smirked. "I'll show you that I'm the best, and that you and Deku are nothing but pebbles on the side of the road to me."
"Keep telling yourself that," Diego suggested. "It might come true." He waited for the massive doors to open, willing his tail and claws to sprout.
As he gathered himself, Present Mic's voice filled the air. "And start!" Everybody looked towards the tower he was situated on behind them, confusion on all their faces. "What are you waiting for?!
He continued talking, but Diego paid no mind. He saw the doors cracking, and he sprinted, managing to be the first in by squeezing himself between the two massive barriers. Despite having entered in before the rest, he heard several booms come from behind him. Before he could look behind himself, a shadow passed over him. His eyes went up to find Bakugo using his combustions to propel himself up and forward.
Flight, eh? Diego continued on, opting to separate from the competition he had underestimated. I would gladly clip those wings if we weren't being watched like bugs in jars. He spotted a two-pointer robot locking in on him, and he willed changed his course to intercept it. "WRYYY!" He leaped up, and drove his arm into the eye piece, easily putting his scaly arm through the glass. He found a few wires and pulled them, snapping the lines off. Whatever he pulled, it must have been important. The machine froze, and fell over to the ground. "Muda! Two for me." He sniffed the air and quickly found another source for points.
XXXXXXXXX
In the other arena, Izuku was not faring so well. "Come on, come on! I haven't earned a single point yet!" He ran along the streets, seeing nothing but already destroyed robots and wakes of destruction. Suddenly a one-pointer sprang from an alleyway, blocking his path. Before he could recover from his miniature panic attack, a steel ball made contact with the lens near the top of it. Instead of bouncing away, it spun in place, like a top.
After an instant, it drilled it's way into the villain. Izuku could barely hear the internal damage being done before the target collapsed. Out of the hole came the ball, whirring past him. His eyes followed it on reflex and saw it go directly to the hand of Zeppeli.
"And that makes twenty-seven," the westerner said before running off.
"He has that many points?!" Izuku could hardly believe it. He still had zero! On and on he moved, seeing more and more competitors wrack up their scores. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl who had stopped his trip before the lecture. I really should thank her when this is over...
Before any more ponderings could enter his mind, a rumbling filled the air. Everything began to shake. And one of the skyscrapers collapsed. When the dust settled, everybody feasted their eyes to a shockingly massive faux villain. It was taller than most of the buildings and sent almost everyone fleeing for their lives.
Midoriya found himself frozen, staring at the mechanical monstrosity. I can't let that thing crush me! Everything All Might gave me will go to waste! He turned to run, but something caught his ears.
"Oww..."
He turned his head and saw the girl who had saved him on the ground. The words she said to him echoed in his brain. She said falling before the exam would be unlucky... and she fell during it! He saw the zero-pointer closing in on her. In that moment, Midoriya Izuku made a choice that influence the road his life would take him forever.
He remembered All Might's instructions as he bent his legs, allowing One For All to flow through him, he clenched his rear end, and leapt high into the air. As he closed in on the towering monster, he drew his right arm back, filling it with his new Quirk like he did his legs. Reaching the optimal rang, he forced his fist forward, and with every ounce of his willpower, let out a single word.
"SMASH!"
His glowing knuckles collided with what could be called the zero-pointer's face, making it collapse in with several pieces falling off the hull. As Izuku fell, so too did the faux villain. It toppled onto its back as he fell back to the ground, making him realize the impending landing.
My legs and my arm are broken! Okay, think! Maybe if I use my good arm- no, I can't be sure that'll work at all!"
Below him, a voice shouted out, "I gotcha! I gotcha!"
Whoever that is must be planning to catch me... but the impact could kill both of us!
As he closed in on the concrete, his mind began to blank. He wasn't sure if it was because he was thinking too fast or not at all.
Then, roughly five meters above the point of impact, he stopped. As he stayed in the air, the sensation felt familiar to him. It made him think of how that nice girl had helped him earlier. He heard panting and looked to his side. There she was, gripping onto a piece of the zero-pointer, which was also levatating next to him.
She... she saved me again.
Below them, that same voice from a moment ago spoke again. "I still got him!" The girl pressed the tips of her fingers together, and she, her perch, and Izuku returned to falling. She landed on the ground, but he found himself ending up in someone's arms. "You, my new friend, are fucking crazy."
Midoriya's vision focused and he saw the one who was holding him. "Zeppeli?"
The European smiled, showing that his teeth had golden grills that had 'GO!GO! ZEPPELI' imprinted on them. "You got guts, Izzy. A lot of guts."
The greenette was thankful, but there was his own problem that he suddenly remembered. "I still don't have any points!"
"Ah. Not good."