"Welcome! Ladies, gentlemen, small humans and kids who just switched channels so their parents didn't see what they were watching," Deadpool said that last line directly to the camera filming it in the event's broadcasting room. He was acting as the announcer. "Deadpool here, your favorite Merc with the Mouth! And I'm ready to give the play by play on this glorious afternoon of CHILD VIOLENCE!!!"
Deadpool stopped for a moment, hearing neither screams nor boos from the huge audience in the completely filled the M.A. stadium, the festival's headquarters. The Mercenary Hero tapped his microphone, realizing it was muted. He turned to the side and noticed his partner pressing a red button on the sound panel.
"And with him is Matthew Murdock, your co-commentator for the competition. I was invited with great affection by the faculty, and I hope you're all as excited as I am!" Matthew said into his own microphone, invoking the more cheerful and persuasive voice of the famous lawyer. The audience screamed in animation as he leaned back in his chair, looking disgruntled at his current predicament.
Fortunately, the part of the cabin he was in wasn't being broadcast, so he could preserve his identity while still being completely injured. "Why must you be a mood killer?" Deadpool asked his colleague.
"My other job here is to babysit you. Do you know how many families with young kids are watching this?" The blind hero asked as if it were obvious, "Besides, your heart starts racing before you say something stupid. It's like you're begging me to do this…"
"But the readers want the author to stay true to Deadpool's speech mannerisms. They hate your plausible context..." Deadpool sulked.
"What are you talkin-" Daredevil tried to ask, but was interrupted.
"And here they come," Deadpool spoke into his microphone. "The children you've all been waiting for, CLASS 1-A!!!" The 20 students from the First Year of the Heroes Course walk out from one of the entrances. The crowd went wild as they emerged, quickly recognizing some familiar faces from the news a few days ago. But of course, it wasn't just at the stadium where people were going crazy.
"The one with the red mask, he's my nephew!" May said to her visitors. The ladies of the street arranged a watch party for their children and grandchildren to watch the Festival on TV. "One day, he'll be the greatest hero in the world!"
"Oooooohhh!!!" The young kids exclaimed, as they turn to the screen and focused on the boy.
"There's a ton of people," Peter said, tugging the collar of his PE jumpsuit. He looked at the huge number of people and cameras watching them. "It's more intimidating than I thought..."
"Yeah..." Wanda replied softly, also embarrassed and even a little intimidated by them.
"But remember, we must not seek third party validation. We must recognize our own value ourselves," said Danny. Although even through his mask, he looked little shaken by the situation.
"YOU LOVE ME!!! YOU REALLY LOVE ME!!!" Gwen waved to the audience, sending kisses and making the peace sign with her hands. The trio just smiled tiredly at the girl as she jumped around excitedly.
"But it's not just for protagonists that a story is written!" Deadpool continued. "Here they come! Also from the Heroes Course; CLASS 1-B!!!"
Soon after the last students of 1-A left, the students of 1-B emerged from the tunnel. 20 students, also on the Heroes Course, as powerful and skilled as 1-A, since the selection method for classes was random, not based on grades.
Like Class 1-A, 1-B was also home to boys and girls with most diverse appearances and ethnicities. Leading the group was a specific girl; tall and slender, with slightly wavy blonde hair that reached up to her armpits. She had fair skin, a small nose, thin lips and piercing blue eyes. Her countenance was serious and determined as she walked. It wasn't for nothing, those in the know recognized her as the granddaughter of one of the first heroes in history.
"And now, to be effective, the author will only quote people who matter from the Classes; C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K," said Deadpool again, while the rest of the students came through the other entrances.
Through one of the openings, the C, D and E of the General Studies emerge. Those who received the most varied education, both for those who wanted to enter the Heroes Course. The boy with colored eyes was among them. He walked separately from the rest of his colleagues, and from those who considered a university degree in the future. For this was the general plan of the students in this class, too unmotivated to still cherish the dream of being heroes.
The Support Department's F, G and H classes came from another tunnel. This was the department Tony Stark was part of this before becoming a hero. It became home to the most promising young minds for building support equipment for heroes.
A certain girl was very excited by the event, very inspired by the work of Iron Man. She wasn't a very tall girl, with dark skin, thick lips, a flattened nose and wavy brown hair. She wore a red and gold helmet, similar to one that Iron Man himself used, but with her face showing, covering only the sides and the back.
Finally, from the last access to the stadium, Classes I, J and K, the Department of Finance, and those less interested in that event. "But let's be real, they aren't that important!" Deadpool briefly addressed the reader before turning back to the microphone. "Now I humbly pass the word to our field advisor. Our dear teacher, the White Queen herself, Emma Frost!"
All 220 students from the eleven classes went to a small white platform on the side of the demarcated area in the center of the stadium, where the field announcer and judge would stay: The telepathic heroine, Emma Frost.
The History of Modern Art teacher from both the heroes and General Studies courses, stood on a platform. The beautiful heroine was waited for the students to approach. Her slightly wavy and shiny blonde hair fell over her shoulders, her thin face was marked by makeup in her eyes and the silver lipstick on her lips. Her curvaceous body enchanted and envied many onlookers, especially when highlighted by her uniform.
The white corset hugged her waist and bust, the cloak attached to the sides went to her feet, but left her shoulders out, her arms were covered in white gloves, and her pants and boots were the same color, just like the necklace around her neck. However, her countenance was serious. She was a very strict teacher, who even managed to deceive students at times with a more meek way. She wasn't affected by anything, not even by her old heroine name that Deadpool had insisted on using.
"Is Ms. Frost's uniform really suitable for this event?" Asked Amadeus, embarrassedly trying not to gaze at his teacher's body.
"I don't know what's more intimidating: her body or her face..." replied a blushing Pietro.
"No objections here!" Kei added, sketching rapidly on his notepad.
"Silence!" In a strong warning, the heroine was able to quiet both students and spectators at the same time, not even needing the telepathic effect of her quirk. "Now then, Representatives of Classes B and A, please come up for opening speeches."
A shiver went down the spine of all the students in 1-A, while the representatives of the heroes' classes went over to the microphone that was next to the teacher. Peter breathed a sigh of relief; having already watched the festival on television several times, he knew that there was a chance that the speech nominee would be the one who had won first in the practical exam of the Admission Exam, which in their case would be Flash. Thankfully, Azari would be responsible for this one.
Indicating politely to his fellow representative, Azari offered the microphone to the blonde from Class 1-B. He always was a good diplomat.
"Good morning, colleagues and spectators! As a representative of 1-B, I would like to express how grateful we are that you are watching us," she said, looking at the audience in the stands. But then, she turned to the other students, specifically those in Class 1-A.
"And I would like to remind you that no matter what happened in the past, everyone here has a chance to show their potential, and that we should not be intimidated by the opponent. Thank you!" She turned away from the microphone to the sound of applause, now giving space for Azari.
Azari used a little time to reflect on what he was going to say. He'd already prepared a speech, but thought he needed to change it. The opponent's speech was obvious, if somewhat masked. And the meaning was simple; "It doesn't matter that you faced villains, we'll go with everything we've got."
He took a deep breath before speaking, "On behalf of Class 1-A, we also thank you for watching and cheering us on. We wish all of our colleagues good luck, and aspire to give our best in this festival! Thank you!" He ends giving Wakanda's cross-arm salute, walking away to a round of applause.
"Okay, let's move on with our schedule," said the teacher, as soon as the representatives left the stage. "We will now determine what the first activity will be," she said seriously. A holographic screen with a roulette appears behind her, which spun and stopped to indicate the activity to the students; Obstacle Course.
"Very well," Emma began. "All students will participate in this activity. It's a 4 km run around the stadium, you will leave and enter through the same portal. The only rule is to not leave the course, other than that all students can do whatever they want. So, please assemble at the exit."
Quickly and efficiently, all students positioned themselves at the mouth of the only exit directly connecting the stadium to the outside. The opening was about 10 meters high, and had three green lights on like those of car racing. When the three went out, the race would start.
The portal wasn't very wide, approximately five meters in length. As such, the students either squeezed into the entrance or stayed further back, all depending on the strategy of each one. Since it certainly wouldn't be possible for everyone to pass through at the same time.
Young Parker was in the middle of the crowd, trying his best to get close to the exit, and until the lights went out, he was thinking about everything he had to do. This was his chance to introduce himself to the world, at least, one aspect of himself.
In addition to the mask, he'd taken on the code name "Spider." He needed to be smart about using his powers to do well in the situations that would follow and be able to show his potential as a future hero.
The first light went out.
He hoped Aunt May was watching him.
The second light went out.
He hoped Mr. Stark was watching him.
The last light went out
He wished Uncle Ben was watching him...
"START!!!" The teacher began the competition.
If the students felt that the confusion that occurred in the canteen during the reporters' invasion had been a chaotic, their parameters had just changed. More than two hundred students ran, pushed and squeezed themselves in hopes of crossing the stadium opening to the outside as quickly as possible, each trying to make the best use of their skills.
"And look how they squeeze into that tight space! That's exactly how it happened when I-" Deadpool's audio is muted in that last part. "Really? Then you comment, Mr. Boring!" he said his co-commentator.
"Many cannot see the first obstacle," Mr. Murdock takes the floor. "But the way out is one of the most important moments."
Of course, Peter thinks to himself. Whoever gets out of here first will have a huge advantage in the race. When they get to the open space first, I need to do something! The boy quickly remembered the situation during the reporters' invasion, and quickly thinks up a plan. Squeezing through the crowd, he advanced until he reached the nearest wall. Placing his hands on the concrete, he began to propel himself upwards, with the goal of climbing the wall with his hands and getting out of there faster. He was about to leave the ground, when his plans failed with a sudden temperature drop.
Everyone was surprised when the air is quickly cooled and a layer of ice appeared from the ground. It started to trap the feet of all runners. Peter quickly hoisted his feet off the ground just as the ice covered the ground underneath. Just then, he noticed a figure passing nimbly through everyone until it left the tight tunnel.
"(미안 해요) Mian haeyo!!!" The Korean Seol invoked her nationality a bit by apologizing in her mother tongue. She ran out, with the freezing trail covering the outlines of the exit as it spreads. It created a layer of ice on top of the dirt floor and concrete, while she'd now created blades on her sneakers and was skating away at high speed.
"Seol..." One who was less affected by the freeze was young Reyes. Due to the latent functions of his Quirk, the ice barely reached his feet and soon melted. Somewhat irritated, he ran outside, lightly melting the ice he passed until he was outside, running with his feet through the ice layer and making him step on solid ground.
But he wasn't the only one who managed to break free and start running. Flash used his Quirk to "eat" the ice at his feet. Sam put on his helmet, producing enough energy to melt the ice and break free. But not wanting to spend all his energy, he was content to just escape from the ice and run. Some others who contained increased strength managed to get out too, like Luke and Amadeus, even Kei mounted on Fireclaw, the two-meter humanoid tiger with literal flaming claws sticking out of the back of his hands.
If the only rule is to not leave the course... Reyes thought, seeing the other students managing to break free. He puts two fingers to his lips, blowing a short, loud whistle, like one used to call an animal.
Instantly, an engine roar is heard in the distance. And suddenly, everyone is surprised when one of the walls on the side of the course blown up, forming a crater. A car driving itself crossed it and stops beside Reyes. The completely black car was a modified 1969 Dodge Charger, known as Hell Charger by its owner.
Stopping his run, Reyes gets into the car, sitting in the driver's seat. He shifts into third gear and stomps on the gas, ready to go.
"Where do you think you're going, Ghosty!?" Flash yelled angrily when he sees the boy get in the car. He activates his Quirk, trying to stretch an arm so he can grab the car, but that wasn't possible.
With the exhaust literally spitting fire, the heat wave it produced was enough to prevent Flash from reaching him, given his weakness to the fire. Reyes began speed following the race course.
Even though Seol had the advantage of being in the front, Reyes in his car quickly caught up. Further back, other students managed to escape the trap by the Korean.
Soon afterwards, the two students were faced with something unexpected. Both being students who entered by recommendation, they didn't recognize the army of greenish robots ahead. They were the robots of the entrance exams; several of the smaller 1, 5, and 10 point robots, plus two more of the huge zero point trap robots were, all together, the second obstacle of the competition.
Reyes braked the car, observing the blockade of the machines, but Seol only increased her speed. Watching the robotic army she was unmoved, confident in her abilities now and knowing she could overcome this challenge. She proceeded to launch a blast of ice from her hands, forming a ramp that went over the robots. She knew that the big guys were too high to go over, so she needed to knock one over. Turning the ramp a little and facing one of the colossal robots, she stops creating the ramp and launched at high speed towards the machine.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" She howled, concentrating her Quirk close to herself. A huge ice sheet appeared out of nowhere, as if forming a stalagmite in mere seconds, but of completely black ice. It pierced the robot, destroying the chest and structure and it started to fall.
Without more energy, the girl used that moment, pushing herself on the tip of the ice spear she had created and jumping over the robot. Once more, she formed a ramp, sliding nimbly down the back of the falling mechanical monstrosity.
Reyes was amazed to see how much power the girl had, seeing the gigantic machine fall to the ground and raising a cloud of wind and dust. He knew that he couldn't stand still, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing the rest of the students approaching. Not wanting to waste his advantage, he shifts gears again, released the handbrake and steps on the accelerator.
Quickly making a right turn, he heads to the ramp created by his opponent, hoping that even with the heat of the car, the ice wouldn't melt immediately. She was his best chance at jumping this obstacle, and certainly the most efficient way. Some of the robots try to stop him, but the speed of the Hell Charger kept them out of his way as he heads towards the ice structure.
Climbing the ramp at high speed, he observed that if he went fast enough, he'd be able to use the second landing ramp. Moving at high speeds, the ramp ends and he was launched. But what he didn't foresee was the giant robotic hand of the second largest robot blocking his path, trying to hit him in mid-flight. Reyes thinks of the different ways he could use his Quirk to get rid of this problem, I can't use that power, I WILL be a hero without it.
He tightened the steering wheel and concentrates, activating half of his Quirk and summoning iron chains from his back. They literally spring from his body and launch out the open windows like living snakes. Controlling them mentally, he makes them cling to the carcass of the fallen robot and the other end to the hand of the robot that blocked his path. With a single thought, they pull the iron giant, making his hand go down and giving free way to the car.
Reyes landed on the other ice ramp, the car slamming down and shaking, but he held on tight and continued the journey, following the ice rink formed by Seol and leaving the army of robots for his colleagues to take care of.
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Barber's Chair
• A few hints toward Class 1-B students, their Class President in particular has quite the heroic pedigree.
• Introducing the Hell Charger!! Technically, Roberto's staying on the track, so he's not breaking any rules, unless he doesn't have a permit!
