Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 6: The Perilous Obstacle Race

The roar of the crowd is deafening, the atmosphere in the stadium electric. Midnight stands on the stage, announcing the beginning of the U.A. Sports Festival. Kirishima stands among the competitors, his heart hammering with both excitement and nerves. This is his chance to prove himself. But at the back of his mind, there’s a flicker of fear—the fear of losing control again.

“First event: the Perilous Obstacle Race,” Midnight declares. “A four-kilometer race around the stadium!”

Kirishima feels the weight of the challenge ahead, and as the countdown starts, his muscles tense in anticipation.

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The Doorway

All the students are packed tightly in front of the large, narrow corridor that leads to the stadium's outer track. The tension is palpable, and Kirishima glances at the students beside him. He can see Bakugou standing a few places away, his confident smirk unwavering. Kirishima’s dragon instincts stir, pushing him to keep up with the explosive boy.

The signal to start blares through the stadium, and all the students surge forward. They hit the bottleneck of the doorway almost immediately, bodies jammed together. Kirishima grits his teeth, trying to push through, but there’s no room to maneuver.

Suddenly, Todoroki acts. The air around them chills as he uses his ice quirk, freezing the feet of several competitors and creating a path for himself. Kirishima reacts quickly, jumping and hardening his body to avoid getting trapped in the ice. Bakugou, meanwhile, blasts himself into the air, completely avoiding the ground-based freeze.

Kirishima pushes forward, feeling the weight of his body but refusing to let the ice slow him down. He watches as Bakugou disappears ahead in a burst of fiery explosions.

I can’t fall behind. Not now.

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Robo-Inferno

As the competitors break free from the doorway and charge forward, they’re greeted by the next obstacle—a field filled with massive villain robots, including the giant zero-point robots from the entrance exam. Kirishima’s breath catches in his throat at the sight of them. The memory of his rampage during the entrance exam, when his dragon instincts had taken over, flashes before his eyes.

But this isn’t the time to dwell on that. He needs to focus.

Todoroki takes the lead, freezing the robots effortlessly. His ice covers their legs, causing them to topple over like falling trees. The other students scramble to avoid being crushed, but Kirishima and Tetsutetsu—their quirks perfectly suited to endure—brace themselves. A massive robot crashes down toward them, but they harden their bodies, shrugging off the impact.

As they emerge from the rubble, Kirishima spots Bakugou blasting through the air, his explosions propelling him far ahead of the other competitors. Sero and Tokoyami are close behind, using their quirks to keep pace.

“Damn it,” Kirishima mutters under his breath. “I’ve gotta push harder.”

He charges forward, his body hardening as he tears through the smaller robots that stand in his way. His dragon instincts push him to go faster, to unleash more of his power, but he holds back. I can’t lose control. Not here.

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The Fall

Kirishima reaches the next obstacle—a wide pit filled with massive stone pillars connected by narrow tightropes. It’s a test of balance and agility. He watches as Todoroki slides across the ropes effortlessly on a path of ice, while Bakugou blasts himself forward with explosions. Tsuyu, with her frog-like abilities, leaps gracefully across the pillars, followed closely by Ida, who speeds through with his powerful legs.

Kirishima hesitates for a split second. His instincts scream at him to use his wings, to fly across the pit like Bakugou, but he grits his teeth and pushes the thought down. No. I’ve got this. I can do this without losing control.

He steps onto the tightrope, hardening his body to help keep his balance. Each step is deliberate, careful. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest, but he keeps moving. His eyes flicker toward Bakugou, who’s already closing in on Todoroki. The gap between them is widening.

I can’t fall behind.

With a final surge of strength, Kirishima pushes himself across the tightrope, landing on solid ground just as the leaders disappear into the next obstacle.

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The Minefield

Kirishima barely has time to catch his breath before the final challenge comes into view: a massive minefield. Shoto is the first to arrive, but he moves cautiously, aware that the mines could detonate at any moment. Kirishima watches as Bakugou catches up to Todoroki, his explosions lighting up the field as he tries to gain the lead.

The dragon inside Kirishima roars, urging him to act, to break free. Let me out. I can do this faster.

He grits his teeth, fighting the urge. No. I can’t lose control.

Just then, Midoriya arrives, his eyes scanning the field. He doesn’t hesitate. Grabbing a piece of the robot he’s been carrying, he begins digging up the mines, piling them together. Kirishima watches in awe as Midoriya uses the detonations to propel himself forward, launching over the minefield and into first place.

Bakugou’s furious roar echoes across the stadium as he blasts after Midoriya, determined not to let him win. Kirishima steels himself and charges into the minefield, using his hardened body to absorb the smaller detonations. Each step sends a tremor through his limbs, but he keeps moving. I can’t give up now.

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The Finish Line

As they near the finish line, the race becomes a blur of motion and explosions. Midoriya, Todoroki, and Bakugou are neck and neck, their quirks pushing them to the limit. Kirishima follows closely behind, his determination unwavering. His dragon instincts roar within him, but this time, he channels the energy, using it to drive him forward without losing control.

Midoriya makes one final move, creating a massive explosion that propels him across the finish line in first place. Todoroki and Bakugou follow closely behind, their rivalry evident in every step.

Kirishima crosses the finish line moments later, his body aching but his heart full of pride. I did it. I didn’t lose control.

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Aftermath

As the dust settles, Midnight announces the standings, revealing which 42 students advance to the next round. Kirishima’s name flashes on the board, and he lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

The first event is over, but the tension is far from gone. Midnight immediately announces the next event—the Cavalry Battle—and Kirishima feels the familiar stir of nerves. But for now, he’s just relieved he made it through the first event without losing control.

Bakugou strides over, his eyes blazing with determination. “You better not hold me back in the next round, Shitty Hair.”

Kirishima grins despite himself. No matter what happens next, I’ll be ready.