Chapter 12: Ready, Steady, Go!

*Mini Izuku appearing on one shoulder*

"God says to never give into temptations and to resists the urge of sin so that you may stay on the Path of righteousness."

*Mini Gabriel appearing on the other*

"Reach for the officer's gun."

Boys and not boys, it's time for another chapter and the long awaited (I think anyway) section of the Sport's Festival. I'll be totally honest with you guys; things are going to be very action oriented these next few chapters with a fight scene in almost everyone. I also plan doing something different and switching up perspectives at one point and fleshing out some of the characters.

And I know there will be some complaint that Izuku will breeze through the competition which is the main point for most of this arc. I really want to showcase how far Izuku has come in his training and just how different the power balance is between an angel and hero in training.

Before we dive in I have an interesting announcement for you all, me along with some other friends who are writers/artists have made a discord sever. This came from a user on AO3 named 98ajaj, so thanks for the suggestion. I'll be totally real, I have no idea how to run a sever, but I like the idea of fellow nerds like me being able to communicate with one another and share ideas. I think community is important so I figured why not try and build a little one of my own so others can find friendships and fans alike.

Since links don't work on FF please check out AO3 or look us up; the sever name is ULTRAFICS

Other than that hope you guys enjoy the chapter.

'So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.' Izuku read the passage from his bible. 'Hmm, but can there be love without hope or faith?' The greenette pondered with a competitive look.

Izuku, along with the rest of his classmates, sat within a large, spacious waiting room waiting to be summoned for the Sports Festival. The young angel was seated at one of the four large tables that had been set up for them. Tokoyami sat to his right, while Mina and Aoyama were across from the two. Strangely Kirishima and Koda had taken up the seats at their respective end of the table, but neither Izuku nor his friends minded.

The past two weeks had been a blur, at least it felt that way for Izuku. It felt like yesterday that he was fending off villains and unlocking more of his angelic powers. Yet, the progress he made in the past seven days with Gabriel showed how much stronger he really was. While he was far from perfect, the young angel made some progress with his Light. He was now able to form simple weapons, like swords, spears, and axes. However, anything more complex than that was these three were beyond Izuku's abilities.

Also, while he could make weapons now, he couldn't maintain them for an extended period of time. The longest Izuku had managed to keep his Light shaped was roughly ten minutes before it faded away. Not only that, unlike his mentor, the greenette wasn't able to conjure multiple weapons at once. The process of attempting to left him severely exhausted and weakened, something Gabriel said was natural when one overused their Light.

However, with the Sports Festival now here, Izuku was confident that his current training would be enough against his opponents. Izuku knew that his classmates, along with the other students at U.A were both strong and cunning. Even with his new development with his powers, the angel would not make the mistake of underestimating his fellow aspiring heroes. He knew that one wrong move could spell his defeat, no matter if he was an angel.

"Man Midori, you seem to be more focused on your book than the festival itself." Mina idly commented. Izuku noted the slight twitching she made in her seat. "Are you even slightly nervous?"

"Normally I'd say yes, but after what we went through at USJ I don't see it as a big deal." Izuku honestly replied, closing his tome and strapping it to his side. A modification to his gym uniform that Aizawa allowed surprisingly.

"You do have a point my friend." Tokoyami agreed from the side. "Being watched by millions is nothing compared to fighting against dangerous villains."

"...still scary…" If it wasn't for his superhuman hearing Izuku would've missed Koda's whisper.

"I know it might seem scary Koda, but remember you did amazing at USJ." The greenette turned to give the quiet boy a firm look. "You'll do great out there, I promise. I'll be rooting for you."

"..." Koda was silent before ducking his head, a faint red tinge on his cheeks. "...thank you…"

"Sometimes I don't think you're real Midori. I mean come on–we're all supposed to be rivals and here you are inspiring us." The pink skinned girl 'complained' though Izuku knew she was just teasing.

"She does have a point mon ami." Aoyama agreed while grinning lazily. "For some reason whenever I'm around you I find myself wanting to do nothing but my absolute best."

"I think it's really manly!" Kirishima interjected with a fierce glint in his eyes. "Midoriya, you're getting me all fired up! I can't wait to face off against ya!"

"Likewise, Kirishima, I'm looking forward to seeing what you all can do." Izuku said in a friendly tone. "Just because we're all competing against one another doesn't mean we have put each other down."

"Midoriya."

A new voice came from behind the greenette, prompting him to turn around and come face to face with the stoic look of Todoroki. In truth, Izuku barely interacted with the half and half user despite being class president. Something that Izuku was trying to improve upon, since it was his responsibility and he genuinely wanted to learn more about his classmates. Though if the intense look the shorter teen was giving him of any indication, the angel doubted he was trying to be social for the sake of it.

"Oh, hey Todoroki." Izuku acknowledged with a nod. "Did you need something?" He asked.

"...you may be number one in the class, but I wanted to tell you that objectively I am stronger than you." The teen paused before bluntly speaking his mind. "Your quirk is not nearly as powerful as mine."

"Um…ok?" The angel replied back, confusion etched into his expression.

"Yo dude, what's your problem?" Mina frowned, not at all liking the stoic boy's tone.

"Ayy am I seeing things right, is Todoroki picking a fight with our class president?" Denki commented, garnering the attention of the rest of the class.

"It's not a fight if we already know who the winner is." Todoroki stated matter of factly. "Just like how I'm stronger than Bakugo, I'm stronger than Midoriya."

"Oi what you say you bastard?!" Said explosive user growled as he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against. "You wanna go to war with me? Fine, I've been looking for a reason to knock your ass down." The blonde stomped over to the other teen and glared into his his eyes.

'Great if there's anything that will incite Bakugo its someone who think they're stronger than he is.' Izuku mentally groaned, knowing he'll have to intervene if the two got out of control.

"You won't ever get the chance." The half and half user coldly responded. "My ice is far superior to your quirk in every way. It's just a fact, I am stronger than you."

Everyone in class 1-A knew what Todoroki's quirk was, as they all shared them at some point or another, but no one could pinpoint why he never used his fire. Speculations were made, but Izuku along with Momo made sure to quash them before they spread into rumors. While the angel was curious himself, he knew that it was Todoroki's reason to tell and would respect his privacy.

Although he should have known that such knowledge would cause Bakugo to view the red and white haired boy with disdain. Despite drifting apart, Izuku knew that his former childhood friend loathed people who half-assed against him. Something that the greenette could somewhat agree with, but he knew Bakugo likely was taking far more personally. Judging by the look of pure rage in the blonde eyes, it looks like Todoroki hit the right nerve.

"You fucking–"

"Enough." With iron in his voice, Izuku stepped between the two teens and forced them apart. His green eyes held a strict look to them, forcing both Todoroki and Bakugo into submission for now. "We might be opponents, but we are all trying to become heroes. Rivalries are expected, but we are not enemies. So, stop being at each other's throats. Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal." Todoroki replied evenly.

"Tch, whatever." Bakugo grunted while shoving his hands into his pockets.

"WILL FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS PLEASE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE ARENA!"

The robotic voice that came from the speaker garnered the attention of the room's occupants. With one last warning look given to the two other boys, Izuku led his class through the stadium's corridor, stopping at the end of the tunnel. Even without being outside the greenette's senses were instantly flooded with the roaring of the crowd. From his spot he could see the entire stadium was packed to the brim with people, along with several drones that had cameras mounted to them.

"Ayy–ayy what's up listeners! It's me, your savvy, handsome host Present Mic and his sleepy co-host Underground Hero: Eraserhead?"

"Mm." The erasure hero groaned tiredly.

"Can I get a yeah?!" The bombastic voice of Present Mic sounded across the stadium.

The crowd grew even louder, creating a thunderous roar that practically vibrated the air. If there was one compliment Izuku could give Present Mic, it was his ability to amp people up.

"That's the spirit! Now let's get down and start this year's U.A's Freshman Sport's Festival! We got plenty of talent here today but only one will stand victorious! Stay tuned and see who will go beyond Plus Ultra!"

The angel's expression hardened, determination filling his emerald eyes.

"Now what's the Sport's Festivals without its contestants?" The Pro rhetorically asked. "It's my pleasure to introduce you to this year's classes! They were attacked by villains and are back for more, give it up for Class 1-A!"

As Izuku and the rest of his class stepped from underneath the tunnel they were met to the sound of booming applause from the audience. Taking their place in the arena, the angel looked around, fully taking in his surroundings. Some of his classmates held looks of apprehension, clearly intimidated by the crowd. Others simply steeled themselves, wearing looks of resolution as they waited for whatever came next. With a bit of concentration, the teen was able to tune out the sound of the crowd, focusing instead on the sound of Present Mic's voice.

"But don't be fooled because coming in next is their determined sister class! Give it up for Class 1-B!"

The Pro Hero's words caused Izuku's lips to tilt downward, a feeling similar to disappointment filling his chest at the lackluster introduction. Ever since the USJ incident the greenette could feel the tension between the two classes rising. It seems that even now the fact that 1-A managed to fend off villains was still the talk of the school. Attention that Izuku found to be a detriment more than anything. If it didn't remind his more sensitive classmates of the harrowing experience, it continued to further the rift that was growing between their sister class.

Casting a glance over at said group of students, Izuku could plainly see that a good portion of them did not take kindly to being overshadowed once more. Several glares were sent their way, with a blonde boy looking particularly irritated. The only real ones that appeared unbothered were Itsuka and Ibara. The former of which the greenette conversed with daily in order to help bridge the gap between the two classes.

'Such senseless anger, and for what?' Izuku sighed, rubbing at his temples.

"Are you alright my friend?" Tokoyami asked with a concerned look.

"I'm fine, just weary of this 'class war'." The greenette answered.

"It has been rather…tense between 1-A and 1-B hasn't it?" The shadow user hummed thoughtfully. "I imagine as class president your concern for the matter is far greater than mine."

"You have no idea." Izuku huffed like a worn out parent.

By the time the two had finished their conversation the general studies, support, and management studies had also joined in the arena. Izuku briefly observed them before turning his attention back to Present Mic.

"And with our excitable contestants in place it's time to introduce this year's referee. You know her–you love her, that's right it's R-rated hero: Midnight!"

The teen could feel the audience radiating with lust, along with a good chunk of students in the arena. Males and females alike looked at the heroine with longing eyes, even sending down catcalls to the woman. If it wasn't for his recent introduction to the religious side of being an angel he was sure he'd also be a blushing mess. Though after spending time with Gabriel, Izuku found himself rolling his eyes at his fellow students' response to Midnight's flaunting.

"Well well well, looks like we got some beauties this year!" The woman took the microphone while striking a seductive pose. "I sure do hope no one is naughty this year…unless they want to be punished!" The crowd cheered at her flirtatious warning.

'She really leans into it huh?' Izuku sweat dropped at the provocative display.

With a raise of her hand the hero brought her whip down onto the concrete, creating a loud crack that echoed throughout the stadium. Instantly all noise faded, allowing for the woman's voice to be heard clearly.

"Now before we get onto the first round, we have some words from our Freshman Representative!" Midnight smiled while speaking into the mic. "He's the President of Class 1-A, the number one entrance examinee with 145 points, and U.A's knight in shining armor–I'd like to welcome Midoriya Izuku!"

There were a few low claps given by some of those in the stands along with some being amongst the students gathered. Mina whooped excitedly with Aoyama joining her, Tokoyami's support was far more subdued being a simple nod. Minus them and a few others in his class the only others to express their congratulations were Itsuka and Ibara.

As Izuku climbed up the steps to the podium, he waved at his friends and returned their support with a thankful smile. Upon reaching his destination the Pro Hero stepped to the side giving him the microphone she was using. With a bit of awkwardness the teen turned towards the stadium, giving him a view of all the other students gathered.

His mouth opened before swiftly closing, whatever words he may have had dying on his lips. In truth, the greenette had memorized a small speech he had written down. Though upon seeing the looks of those in 1-B and other courses' students that speech was quickly forgotten. From his spot Izuku could clearly see their bitter expressions, especially for the latter portion. It was as though they had given up before the games had even begun.

'Though I can't say I blame them.' Izuku thought with a sympathetic frown. 'Everything up until now has been catered towards those with physical enhancing quirks. On top of all the training we've had these past few weeks.' He continued his thought. 'It's no wonder they think they have no chance at all.'

But Izuku refused to believe that, and he would make sure they would as well.

"You are not here to win." Izuku bluntly declared, staring down at the crowd of students with a firm expression. "And neither am I."

A wave of confused mutterings spread through the crowd along with the other contestants. The angel's bold statement had clearly gotten their attention.

"Today is not a day about victory–or rankings–or proving who is stronger. No, today is a test…for me and everyone else competing today." Izuku continued, his voice firm and unwavering. "We are being tested as the next generation of heroes, as students of U.A, but most importantly as individuals. These events will determine if we are prepared to vanquish the phantoms that haunt us–to break the chains that hold us back from our true potential."

'They're listening to me…' The greenette could see how the defeated looks slowly began to morph into something more contemplative. 'Good now to drive the point home.'

"Do not think that achieving victory alone is the key, for each and every one of you have your own barriers to cross. It is up to you what constitutes victory today; whether it be making it to the second round, besting your rival, or simply not being the first to be eliminated." The teen's voice grew more passionate as each syllable left his mouth. "Do not be fooled into thinking that winning the festival is the only measurement of your success."

Taking a deep breath Izuku unclasped his bible and turned to a passage that he knew would seal his message.

"Corinthians 9:24-27, every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." Closing the book shut, the arena was dead silent as Izuku's green eyes burned with an otherworldly intensity. He raised his fist before placing it over his heart resolutely "Today I vow that I will break down the barriers that hold me back–and I know you will too. For if none will have faith in you then I and the Father will…may he bless us all on this beautiful day."

With a final breath Izuku ended his speech, his words being met with a silence so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. However, it was soon offset by several loud sets of clapping coming from the group of students. Mina, Tokoyami, and Aoyama were all enthusiastically cheering him on, along with several others from 1-A.

"That's our Prez! Wooo!" Mina yelled with a large grin.

"Bravo Midoriya! Truly the words of a hero!" Tenya joined in, comical tears of happiness streaming down his face.

It didn't take long for the rest of the stadium to join in, creating a roar of sound that made the ground quake. With a sheepish smile Izuku politely waved back as the crowd cheered him on, though his attention was not entirely on them. As he left the podium he took note of how the other students were visibly determined by his speech. Whatever self-doubts that were present were gone, replaced by a new fiery resolve.

However, there were two people in particular that caught Izuku's attention as he moved to join his friends. The first was an indigo haired, tired looking boy, who wore a hateful glare that confused Izuku. The young angel had never met him before, so he was unsure why he was on the receiving end of such a look.

Though he didn't have to think about it too much as his thoughts were immediately captured by the look Ibara was currently giving him. The vine-haired girl was gazing at him with such adoration it made his face gain a light red tint. He knew she was religious, but he had no idea that his words would have that much of an effect. His cheeks only grew redder when the two made eye contact briefly, the girl giving a small wave. Being the awkward teen he was, Izuku was about to wave back before nearly tripping over his own feet.

'Father save me.' Izuku thought as he blushed embarrassment. Which only deepened when he saw the other greenette giggle into her hand.

"Whoa careful there Midori, it would be really awkward if you fell flat on your face after that speech?" Mina teased.

"Your face is quite red, are you unwell my friend?" Tokoyami asked worriedly.

"Nope–totally fine–just lost my footing." He quickly spat out. Aoyama had lent over and whispered something in Mina's ear causing the girl to gain a devious look.

"What a lovely speech even I'm fired up after hearing it!" Midnight said as she took the podium once more. "Now that the foreplay is out of the way, let's get right to the main event!" With another crack of her whip, the giant screen behind her came to life. Showcasing only two words.

'Obstacle Race'

"Looks like our preliminary event will be an obstacle course!" The heroine announced. "If that sounds easy to you, don't you worry, we here at U.A never make it easy!"

*Outside the Arena*

Izuku gave a flex to his wrist, cracking the joint with a satisfying pop as he waited for the event to begin. He along with the other participants had gathered in one of the tunnels of the arena , the large steel gate already open. Some students had begun stretching in anticipation while others simply meandered about as they waited for the race to begin.

The rules had been laid out plainly enough, the first forty two to make it across would advance to the next round. Quirk usage of any kind was allowed so long as it didn't majorly injure other contestants, disqualification was the immediate answer to any who broke that rule. The same principle applied to those who fell unconscious or went out of bounds.

Seems simple enough.

Except Midnight said there would be three distinct obstacles. And that it was made by Principal Nezu himself.' Izuku recalled the woman's words. 'That means just about anything can be out there.'

Cracking his neck Izuku made a mental note to be alert, the rodent was known for being a trickster so there was no telling what kind of surprises he had planned. But the angel was not worried, he vowed he would overcome his shortcomings today, so no amount of obstacles will slow him down.

"Contestants! Take your places!" Midnight's voice boomed and caused everyone to tense up in preparation.

'I will overcome my barriers!' Izuku repeated to himself. 'Today I'll get even closer to becoming the hero I'm meant to be!'

"Ready!"

For his mother.

"Steady!"

For Gabriel.

"GO!"

For himself.

Filled with holy resolve Izuku's wings and halo sprouted into existence, the greenette shooting down the tunnel like a speeding bullet. All they could feel was the gust of wind over their heads and a green blur immediately reaching the end of the tunnel. Izuku could hear the traffic jam that had ensued, not helped by Todoroki's ice freezing the exit. And while a part of the angel wanted to turn around and help his fellow classmates he knew he shouldn't.

How could they ever hope to grow if someone was there to bail them out?

With reluctance, the teen pushed forward, taking to the sky once he was out of the tunnel. He made sure not to go too high as he didn't want to accidentally go out of bounds.

"Look at that folks we already got our first place leader! With Todoroki and Bakugo following on his trail!" Present Mic's bombastic voice commented. "Guess Midoriya is all bark and bite!"

Izuku tuned out the commentary, instead focusing solely on the path ahead. Though he was comfortably in first place, the angel could hear both Todoroki and Bakugo beginning to close that gap. The sound of ice and explosions grew closer as each second passed.

Flapping his wings powerfully, the angel propelled himself at an even faster rate. He was being far too cautious regarding the unknown obstacles. If he wanted to maintain his lead without fear of being overtaken he'd have to be on high alert. It was as Gabriel said, speed, aggression, and quick thinking were the keys to victory.

It was not a moment later where his increase in awareness was justified.

A robot had emerged from the trees, making an attempt to grab Izuku's ankle and pull him from the air. However, the teen's reaction was far superior, allowing him to safely twist out range and deliver a sharp punch to the machine's chassis. The angel instantly recognized the body as a 1-pointer that was used in the entrance exam.

"If the race won't get your blood pumping these bots will! Welcome to the first obstacle; Robo Inferno!"

Like a wall of metal, robots of all kinds rose up along the pathway, an army of 1, 2, and 3-pointers that were supported by three 0-pointers in the back. The ground quaked as the robotic army marched forward. The wave of contestants stopped, some out of apprehension while others were simply thinking of a plan to bypass the wall of machines. Izuku had also paused in the air, watching the robots with a neutral expression.

Before his lips split into a small, wicked grin.

'Now this I can do.'

Izuku could feel his Light flowing through his veins as he surged forward with pure glee in his green eyes. The unfortunate 1-pointer that was stationed at the front instantly lost its top half as Izuku zoomed by. Doing a midair flip, Izuku's feet slammed into the chest of a 2-pointer, its metal grinding against the earth as the teen rode it like a skateboard. By the time its body had come to a halt the angel had already leapt off it. Diving further into the mass of robots with no hesitation.

"Oh my goodness! Midoriya just jumped into that swarm of robots!" Present Mic's voice blared over the speakers. "I can't tell if he's crazy brave or just crazy with that move! Will this be the tragic end to our first place leader?!"

"I think he'll be just fine." Eraserhead monotonously added. "Considering half the robots are already gone."

"Wait what?"

It was true, in just a few short minutes Izuku had managed to reduce the number of robots by half. Spectators and contestants alike watched in awe at how the green haired boy tore through the wall of metal like wet paper. One after another each machine was struck down, their circuitry and metal becoming piles of scrap. For anyone else such a feat would require only the highest amount of strength and concentration.

But for Izuku it was more liberating than it was challenging, the angel was finally able to cut loose and go all out without fear of hurting anyone. It was almost like being in the Cyber Grind, minus the limited space and his opponents lacking any sort of creativity or critical thinking. Of course, he was a bit disappointed that such opponents were not providing more of a challenge, though he supposed he couldn't complain too much. The angel couldn't deny that it was rather fun to simply dominate the battlefield.

His smile grew as he bashed away a charging 2-pointer, its metal body skidding across the ground before crashing into a group of 3-pointers. However, the angel's focus was not on the smaller robots, instead it was on the three 0-pointers.

'Good, now I can really test myself.' Steeling his posture and focusing his mind, Izuku's Light began to flow through his body. The power of the Father filled him with divine strength that was beyond his normal abilities. A faint golden aura covered his body and with no hesitation shot towards the gigantic machines.

"I–I don't believe it folks! Midoriya is charging towards the 0-pointers!" Present Mic screamed in surprise. "Looks like our first place is hungry for more!"

Accelerating into a green and gold blur, Izuku braced his arms in front of himself as he shot straight through the chest of the middle robot. Exiting through the back with a deafening sound of splitting metal, all could see the giant hole that was made in the machine's chassis. Its power core had been torn in two, causing the giant robot's glowing eyes to disappear as it shut down.

As quickly as Izuku destroyed the first he moved onto the second, turning at a sharp angle midair and diving towards the left most robot. Amping his body with more Light, his arms glowed with a brighter intensity as he surged towards his opponent. There was a flash of Light and all who were watching saw how in a single moment the 0-pointer's head was separated from its body. The large dome wobbled before dropping onto the ground with a cratering thud.

"Jeez Eraserhead, what are you teaching your kids?"

"To be efficient and think critically."

"Well, you saw it here first folks! Charging in and fighting building size robots with your bare hands are Eraserhead's version of efficiency and critical thinking!"

"...that's not what I meant at all."

'Two down one to go.' Izuku thought, a focused expression on his face.

Darting down to the ground and circling around to the last machine's front, Izuku then shot through its underside. Like a ball of angelic might, he sliced through the inside of its body, working his way up from the bottom. Its insides were torn to shreds as he made his way up to the machine's core. Upon reaching it, the angel shaped his Light into his hand, conjuring a broadsword in his right hand.

Power radiated in his hand, power that was quickly put to use.

"Rend!"

With a mighty shout, Izuku drove the weapon into the robot's power core, causing it to let out a continuous wail of warning beeps. Dissipating the holy weapon, the greenette flapped his wings powerfully as he shot straight into the air. The angel emerged from the top of the 0-pointer's head with a spray of metal and wires. A loud booming sound could be heard as the machine's core imploded from its inside. Causing the hunk of metal to halt in its movements and become motionless like its brethren.

"And just like that Midoriya takes out three 0-pointers in just a minute!"

"Expected really, Midoriya has shown excellent decisiveness in his training, it was not a matter of if he would succeed but when." Aizawa added onto his co-host commentary.

"Wow folks this is really shaping up to be an interesting year! And we've only just begun so stay tuned!" Present Mic hyped energetically. "...we have the warranty up to date right? Because we spent a lot of money on those."

"Mic you're still on."

"Wha–oh!"

"How in the hell are we supposed to compete with that?!" A Gen Ed student lamented.

"Ya know Midoriya is strong and all, but I didn't think he'd be that op." Sero said while looking upon the sight with wide eyes.

"...Midori's been really holding out on us huh?" Mina blinked dumbly.

"I must concur mon ami, I had no idea he possessed such power." Aoyama agreed.

Many other students shared their sentiments after the display, unsure of how one person could do so much damage. Of course, minus All Might himself and other Pro Heroes who could probably do the same. But they were Pro Heroes with decades of experience and masters of their quirks, not a freshman with almost no training whatsoever.

"What are you waiting for?!" Tokoyami shouted at his two friends as he darted by. "It is as Midoriya said today about who is stronger! It is a test for us to overcome ourselves!"

The shadow user summoned his quirk, punching through a remaining 2-pointer before surging forward following after his green haired friend. Bakugo and Todoroki had wasted no time in using their quirks to clear their own path. A trail of ice and explosions was seen as the two pushed passed the leftover robots. There was a thundering of steps as the other contestants raced forward, easily overrunning the remainder of the machines.

Izuku kept his eyes forward as he continued to fly down the pathway, ready for the next challenge.

"Looks like the first obstacle was a cakewalk but how will our contestants handle the next!

As Izuku flew through the air he came upon a large canyon, stone platforms being split apart by a series of tight ropes interconnecting them. For a moment the angel slowed, wondering if this was an oversight by Nezu. Of course, the vast majority of other students would find the task of crossing the canyon difficult. However, the angel had a 'quirk' that allowed him the ability of flight, so this obstacle was essentially trivial to him.

'Something's not right.' Izuku narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 'They know what I'm capable of, so what's the trick?'

As he began to drift over the pit, Izuku's cautiousness proved to be well founded as his angelic senses caused him to quickly twist out of the way of a black projectile. Glancing down, the angel could see that multiple canons were protruding from the rock columns. All of which were currently trained on Izuku's hovering form.

"Hope our aspiring heroes watch their step otherwise they might just fall into defeat! Welcome to The Pit! And for our aerial inclined contestants we've got a nice little surprise that will take them down!"

Several cannons fired at once, all launching the same black ball towards Izuku. His training from the Cyber Grind quickly kicked into gear as he weaved between the projectiles expertly. Dodging multiple Drones, Sentries, and Tethers on a daily basis had become second nature for the angel, so outmaneuvering a few cannons was simple enough.

Despite this, Izuku noted that his progress was significantly slower as he was forced to constantly dodge each shot. The fire rate only increased as he moved across the chasm, with more and more cannons being deployed. It stunted his progress so much that the other contestants had managed to catch up and begin making their way across the canyon. Bakugo and Todoroki in particular were quickly closing in on Izuku's position.

'Damn it, I'll fall behind if I keep going like this.' Izuku thought as he grit his teeth. 'Think, there has to be another way.'

As the greenette racked his brain his eyes subconsciously drifted down towards the canyon, specifically where the cannons were placed. Their protruding forms seemed to be locked in place, with their barrels strictly pointing upward. A rather interesting design choice that Izuku took note of.

'Present Mic said that these are meant for those with aerial quirks. So, the fact that they're locked in place means…' The angel paused before a glint realization appeared in his eyes. The beginning of a plan being formed. 'I got it.'

With practiced precision, Izuku allowed himself to fall from the sky, quickly plummeting towards the ground at a rapid pace.

"What's this?! Midoriya is falling towards the ground!"

"For a good reason no doubt, let's see what he has planned."

The sound of wind thrashing against his face didn't stop the teen from staring resolutely as he continued to fall. The cannons continued to fire but their shots never made contact as Izuku skillfully twisted out of the way. Gaining the needed momentum, Izuku waited until he was halfway down into the canyon before maneuvering so that he landed against the side of a pillar.

"If not over then through!" The angel shouted as he used his wings to launch himself in the same moment.

The buildup of speed coupled with his launch point caused Izuku to spring to the next column, creating a large crater as he crashed into the stone. However, as soon as his feet made contact he was gone once more, pushing off the pillar and rocketing towards the next. All without having to worry about being shot at since the cannons were unable to adjust their position.

"Incredible folks! Midoriya is ping-ponging through the canyon like a green ball of fury!"

"A well thought out plan, he maintains his speed while also being in the blind spot of the cannons."

"What's this praise from Eraserhead?! Someone clip that!"

"...why do I volunteer to do this?"

"Because you love it!"

"..."

Izuku slammed into another column, causing the entire pillar to shake as he landed and took off in the same moment. The ziplines connected shook wildly from the force, even sending small tremors throughout the entire canyon.

"Hey! Watch it!" Someone shouted irritably. "Some of us are on the ziplines!"

"Sorry!" Izuku shouted back as he landed against another pillar.

Thankfully for all attempting to cross, the angel had made it to the final column, his legs tense as he prepared to launch himself once more. The stone splintered and cracked underneath as he flew with great intensity out of the canyon. His wings spread to their maximum length as he was finally free to be back in the air. With a single exhale as he stretched his muscles, Izuku shot off through the air once more.

Although, the angel noted that the race had become far closer thanks to his slow start. Bakugo, Todoroki, Tokoyami, and surprisingly Ibara were riding his coattails. All watching the event were on the edge of their seats as the race was shaping up to be rather close.

Flying down the pathway, Izuku and the others soon came to a stop at a flat field with circle outlines in the dirt. There was also a series of hovering circle objects with several short metal rods poking out of their body. They were akin to a naval mine, except they were far smaller and way more numerous than the outlines below.

"And we finally get to the last obstacle! It's The Minefield!" Contestants better mind their step or else they meet an explosive end!"

"...that was terrible."

"What not a punny guy? I'll have you know that I'm the bomb!"

"Ugh."

Izuku floated down and stood with other contestants who had made it so far. Observing the field with a critical eye.

"It seems we must take this obstacle slowly and carefully." Tokoyami hummed, seeing all the amount of mines that were planted.

"...indeed." Ibara agreed with a clipped tone. Side eyeing the shadow user with a tint of aversion.

"This is bulltshit." Bakugo grumbled. "I should just blow them all away."

"By all means, none of us here will stop you." Todoroki deadpanned with a gesture towards the mines.

"And give you the lead, I'm not fucking stupid you half-half bastard." The explosive user growled back.

All the while others thought aloud how to handle the minefield, Izuku was silently going through several of his own ideas. He tossed out the idea of flying through the air since there were too many mines in the sky. The angel also got rid of the idea of simply just dashing across, unsure of what kind of sensor the mines on the ground are using.

'I can't go over, and I can't go through so what is there?' Izuku racked his brain, trying to come up with a viable solution. 'Wait…it's just like the machines.'

Izuku recalled his many battles with the robots in the Cyber Grind, particularly the weaknesses of each one. The greenette had quickly discovered that a fault in one could often be used to exploit another. Like how Drones were highly explosive and could be used to destroy a group of Streetcleaners because of the fuel tank on their backs.

Perhaps this minefield could be exploited in the same way.

After thinking a moment about how best to go forward with his plan, Izuku nodded to himself before launching into the air once more. The others who were gathered ceased their actions and watched in confusion as the teen took off. Their eyes widened when without warning he began to rocket back towards the ground at a greater velocity.

Cocking his arm back, Izuku felt the power of his Light flow into the limb.

"What the fuck do you think you're do–"

"Shatter!"

Bakugo never got a chance to finish his sentence as Izuku slammed his fist directly into the ground. The force of the punch amplified by the power of his Light creating a powerful shock wave that shook the earth. The intensity was so great it caused the mines underneath the soil to be ejected from the ground straight into the air. Where they made contact with the hovering explosives, instantly setting them off.

A chain reaction of concussive blasts began as each explosive set off another, leading to a deafening sound that was similar to thunder. The sound was loud enough that it forced those that were close to the blasts to cover their ears or risk being disoriented.

"In a startling display Midoriya just set off all the mines at once! Incredible folks!"

While the others were momentarily forced to wait for the roaring to end, Izuku had already begun racing across the mineless field towards the finish line. The ground splintered beneath his feet as he put every ounce of energy he had into his legs. Once it was safe to take to the air again, his wings stretched wide before flapping powerfully, sending him to the sky once more.

By the time Tokoyami and the other contestants had regained their senses, the angel had made it into the awaiting tunnel. With nothing to stop him now, he allowed himself to use his Light one more time to gain a tremendous boost in speed. Like a crack of lightning the greenette shot out from the tunnel in a blur of green and gold.

He came to a stop with a powerful gust of wind following and to the sound of the crowd roaring with excitement. Lifting his head to gaze upon the stadium, he saw how the people in the stands cheered in support. More importantly he saw the replay of himself crossing the finish line on the giant screen, four bold words following after.

'First Place: Midoriya Izuku'

With his victory solidified, the angel allowed his body to relax with a deep exhale, wings and halo disappearing from view. A small smile spreading across his freckled face a second later, a happiness he hadn't felt before blooming in his chest. The sound of the crowd cheering, his name being displayed for all to see it, it all felt so fulfilling. To have the world witness his achievement and praise him for it, Izuku couldn't deny that the joy was unlike any feeling he had experienced.

All the training he's gone through, spending hours in the Cyber Grind, fighting against real villains all of it had clearly paid off so far. It felt good, having all of his hard work and dedication being rewarded with victory. More so it felt good to be recognized, to be seen as someone worth standing amongst the next generation of heroes. He had finally shown the rest of the world that he had worth, that he was just as capable as anyone else, that he was strong too.

And Izuku was determined to work even harder from here.

As the other placements began to be taken by contestants, Izuku could only think of his promise that he made in his speech. This was only the first step; it was no doubt going to be even harder from here on out. But the angel was nothing if not ready to face what lay ahead, he had taken the first step, now it was time to see if he could make the next.

'I will overcome my limits today.' Izuku thought one final time before moving to join those who made it to the next round. 'No matter what.'

*Gabriel caressing a picture of Ryan Gosling*

"He's literally me."

*Izuku watching from the sidelines with a confused/concerned expression*

"Tf?"

Hmm what's this, hinting at the main pairing so soon? Why yes-yes I am. Pretty light chapter concerning character development, but I did leave a few hints at where I'm planning on taking a few characters. Thing are only going to ramp up from here so get ready for wild ride because this Sport's Festival is going to get wacky, silly, and dare I say it maybe even goofy.

Question for you guys, I'm toying with the idea of having Izuku scream stuff in Latin for his battle cries but I'm not so sure. What do you guys think I should do cause I'm torn on this. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Also, I don't know if anyone caught it, but the title of this chapter is a reference to Dementus from Furiosa.

Next chapter: It's Like Jousting