Heroes of Tomorrow

Part 8~Ambush

The students ran away as fast as they could, staying in groups with their classmates.

"Everyone," Midoriya called out. "Stay close together; we'll fight them as a group."

Some agreed, but Bakugo did not. "Yeah right. This isn't a field trip." Bakugo stormed off as Kirishima stared.

"Idiot, wait up!" Kirishima charged after him. Naka hesitated before following as well, despite Akiko's attempts to stop him.

"I'm going on my own, too," Todoroki announced. "It's hard for me to use my power safely when a big group's around."

Midoriya stared in dismay before he was forced to let Todoroki go.

"Every year, the test is different," Ms Joke mused. "But one thing's always the same. It's kind of like a tradition during the licencing exam."

"I don't think it's a good idea for them to go off on their own, though." Midoriya kept his frown as he led the group through the arena.

"Really?" Uzu tilted his head as Midoriya hummed.

"Think about it. Everyone already knows what powers we have."

"They did research?" Uraraka gasped as Iida hummed.

"I see. The sports festival."

"Most of the students who compete in the provisional exam have pretty equal footing except for one school. UA comes in at a severe disadvantage. Because the top school's sports festival is broadcast across the country, showing off not just your students' quirks but their weaknesses and fighting styles, too. Kinda funny, isn't it?" Ms Joke glanced at Aizawa as he refused to answer.

"The other schools have probably figured out the same way to win that I have. This is going to end up being a battle between schools. With that in mind, first, they'll likely gang up against Quirks they know." Midoriya finished as they approached the mountain range.

Mina gaped, her jaw hanging. "Does that mean?"

A loud beep echoed throughout the stadium as the announcer's voice burst out of the speakers. "The first test will now begin."

"If you like your class this year, then you should have warned your students about all this. We've seen it time and time again in this exam." Ms. Joke grinned as the class came to a sudden halt. "UA is immediately crushed.

Students jumped down, the balls already in their hands to attack.

"I saw you on TV. That power of yours also destroys your body. Well, I can't say I'm above taking advantage of that." Shindo threw the ball as the other students followed his example.

Akiko shot forward, holding her hands out as her vines shot out, creating a giant wall. "Uzu!"

"On it!" Uzu flew up, spread out his wings and flapped hard, blowing everyone off course.

"So you think we'll be taken out? I don't really see a reason why I should've warned them. I doubt anything would've changed if I had. They're still going to have to overcome this, either way." Aizawa smirked as his students moved about the attacks with ease.

Tokoyami surrounded himself with Darkshadow, batting the balls away. Midoriya kicked in powerful blasts, creating energy waves and keeping him safe. Uraraka floated above the range of anyone's throw.

Sero created whips with his tape, pushing the balls away as Mina melted through any that came near her. Yao-momo created armour plating and hid herself, Hagakure and Tsu. Iida ran, avoiding the balls through pure agility. Uzu spun, creating a whirlwind and trapping the balls. Akiko retreated to using her thorn bullets to shoot the balls out of the sky.

"Real heroes could turn this situation around. Besides, if they become pros, they'll face villains who already know their Quirks. Perhaps at UA, we look a little further ahead than other schools." Aizawa smirked as he looked at his students.

"We've got this, you guys! Show them what UA can do," Midoriya cheered as the class cheered.

"Hey, Eraser. I'm guessing a lot of our kids will think it's important to finish fast. The first ones to pass will be ranked at the top. So they'll want to attack." Joke grinned as Aizawa huffed.

"Immediately. Yes. But teamwork is the key. The wise ones will cooperate and gather information together. But if they're seduced by the urge to win and rush to get points, they'll end up exposing themselves. And then it's all over."

The class gathered around in a circle, the other students staring down at them. Shindo glanced at his friend as he pressed hard on the balls, making them rock solid. Makabe threw the ball to the other classmate, who posed dramatically as his hands glowed purple.

"Boomerang Crescent Moon Trajectory," the guy screamed, throwing the balls in the air. They shot through the sky before burrowing into the Earth. "My aim is always true. And since these projectiles are coming at them from underground, no one will have time to dodge."

"Jiro, this one is all yours," Akiko called out as she nodded, her earphone jacks plugging into her new gloves. She punched the ground as the sound wave shot out, crumbling the ground before her.

"Heatbeat distortion." The balls were thrown out of the ground, but they continued to charge through the sky.

Mina rushed forward, destroying the balls with no problem, her acid creating a temporary wall. "It's my defensive special that creates a melty wall."

"Interesting. This isn't the Class 1A from the Sports Festival. It's obvious their training is making them better fighters." Shindo gritted his teeth when Mera's voice echoed around the arena.

"Looks like all the students are still in a stalemate. Not a single one's passed yet. Oh, and don't worry, students, I'll keep you updated with an announcement every time a few students move on to the next round."

"Outta the way! Their defences are too strong right now," Shindo ordered as he put his hands on the floor. "I'll fix that. Maximum force. Tremoring Earth!" The ground moved and shifted, separating the class.

"Not good. Everybody run," Iida ordered as the class fell about, losing their footing.

"Uzu," Akiko held out a hand as Uzu grabbed her. Akiko gritted her teeth before she stretched her vines out. She caught as many as she could before the class was buried.

"I forgot how painful your thorns were," Jiro grumbled as Akiko huffed.

"Everyone's a critic."

"What?!" Mera's scream echoed through the speakers. "There were 120 people taken down? A single person managed to do that in just one attack? That actually surprised me so much that I'm awake. I assume we'll see a lot of people passing from now on. Everyone, let's get this out of the way so I can take a break."

Akiko slowly lowered everyone down, placing them gently on the ground. She had managed to grab most of the girls, Jiro, Yao-momo and Tsu. She had also got Aoyama and Shoji, but she had no clue where any of the others were.

"We should stay together." Akiko glanced at the others as they nodded.

"We should look for the others, too," Jiro added as Uzu hummed.

"Can you find them?" He glanced at Akiko as she paused.

"I can only find bodies, not identify who they are. I could lead you straight to another attacker."

Their talking was cut short as they heard the voices nearby. The group shared a look, nodding as they rushed away, hiding behind the rocks.

"We need a plan," Uzu muttered before he turned to Yao-momo. The others glanced at her as she gulped.

"Okay, this is what we should do."