𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 058

CHAPTER 58: The Heat of Battle

Three weeks before the Provisional Hero Licensing Exam, the Hero Public Safety Commission convened in a high-security conference chamber, its walls lined with digital displays showing rising crime rates, surveillance footage, and projections for the future. The mood was tense—this wasn’t just another meeting. It was a response to the seismic shift left in the wake of All Might’s retirement.

For years, society had leaned on his strength, his presence a singular symbol of peace. But now, that pillar was gone. And the cracks it once held together were beginning to show.

“The era of individual heroes is over,” one commissioner stated gravely, his words echoing through the room. “From now on, survival depends on cooperation.”

They knew the Provisional Licensing Exam couldn’t be just about showcasing flashy quirks or overwhelming power. It had to be a trial of character, strategy, and teamwork. These students would be stepping into a world far more dangerous and uncertain than the one their predecessors had known. It was no longer enough to be strong—they had to be adaptable, dependable, and, above all, unified.

“We can’t replace All Might,” the chairwoman concluded, her voice calm but firm. “But we can train a generation that doesn’t need to stand behind one hero. A generation that stands together.”

And with that, the exam was shaped—not only as a measure of skill, but as a crucible for the future of hero society.

---

The moment the alarm blared, chaos erupted.

The heat of the battlefield was suffocating. Smoke coiled in every direction, turning sunlight into a dull grey haze. Gang Orca’s sidekicks moved like shadows, efficient and ruthless, cutting across the mock-city like it was already theirs. Students scattered—some faltered, others fought back—but you stood still for a heartbeat, taking it all in.

This wasn’t like the obstacle course. Or the cavalry battle. This was different.

Real.
Raw.
Dangerous.

Your breath steadied, fogging slightly as you instinctively pulled moisture from the air. The mist that gathered around your fingers curled like smoke, almost protective.

"Water responds to emotion," your mother used to say. "But a hero learns to guide it—not be consumed by it."

You closed your eyes briefly, then stepped forward.

A low rumble vibrated through the ground. Ahead, Shindo from Seijin High was defending the evacuees—until a shockwave from Gang Orca sent him sprawling, paralyzed mid-step. The evacuees screamed, vulnerable and exposed.

You didn’t hesitate.

With a surge of adrenaline, you extended your arm, drawing water from beneath the cracked pavement—buried pipes ruptured by battle. The liquid spiraled upward like a serpent, coiling around you before shooting forward.

“I’ll assist Shindo!” Izuku shouted beside you, already sprinting ahead.

“I’ve got his flank!”

You darted after him, crafting a bridge of ice beneath your feet, gliding like a figure skater cutting through fire. The heat from Gang Orca’s earlier attack had dried out most of the area, but moisture still clung to the air. Enough for you.

Reaching Shindo, you dropped beside him, one hand pressed to his chest, the other held outward.

A thin layer of frost spread from your fingertips, cooling his nervous system just enough to ease the paralysis. Not healing—just control. Just enough.