NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35: Chapter 34
Almost all of Class A's hero students in the exercise area were locked in intense battles, though a few stood out as exceptions.
"It's embarrassing to be beaten like this by a child." Shoto Todoroki froze all the villains around him, a flicker of flame in his eyes. "Cheer up, aren't you adults?"
In the desert area: Akira was alone.
Flooded area: Asui Tsuyu, Mineta Minoru, and Midoriya Izuku.
Mudslide area: Shoto Todoroki alone.
Collapse area: Kirishima Eijiro and Bakugo Katsuki.
Mountain area: Kaminari Denki, Yaoyorozu Momo, and two others.
Fire area: Ojiro Mashirao alone.
Stormy area: Tokoyami Fumikage and Koda Koji.
"Mr. Shoji, where are the other students!? Are you still there!? Can you confirm!?" Ida Tenya asked anxiously, as though he were drowning in worry.
"Though they're scattered, they're still in this facility." Mezo Shoji used his replicated arms and ears to listen to the nearby movement. His words brought everyone a little relief. As long as they were in the facility, they could manage. The worst case was if they'd been transported somewhere more dangerous without any assurance of safety.
"Damn it, physical attacks don't work, and it can teleport. This quirk is really a pain!" Ida Tenya muttered helplessly.
"Class Rep!" the 13th suddenly called.
"Yes." Ida Tenya responded instantly.
"I'm giving you a task. Rush to the school and report this incident. The alarm hasn't gone off, and the phone signal is out of range. The alarm here is infrared. Senior… No, Eraser Head is with us, taking out quirks one by one, but there's still no response."
"I'm afraid someone on the other side has a quirk to interfere, and they've hidden him well. It's faster for you to run back and report it." The 13th explained decisively, knowing this situation demanded urgency.
"But leaving the others like this—can the class rep really…"
"Go! There's an emergency exit," Sato Rikido, usually quiet, couldn't keep calm this time. "If you get outside, the sirens will go off, and these guys won't be able to act as boldly here, right!?"
"Once you make it out, they won't risk following. Use your speed to break through the mist." Sero Hanta readied himself to fight, knowing that escorting Ida Tenya out was now top priority.
"To protect you, please use your quirks." It was officially announced by the 13th that students were allowed to use their quirks in this emergency situation.
Uraraka Ochaco added, "Like in the cafeteria before, I can support you. I'm ready, squad leader!"
"How can anyone be so foolish as to discuss their plans right in front of a villain?" Kurogiri sneered. The students were taking themselves too seriously, too reckless for mere hero students. It was ignorance, pure and simple.
Kurogiri atomized, forming six or seven black mist shadows that rushed toward them all. He couldn't let any of these students get away and reveal the attack; all must proceed under Shigaraki Tomura's orders and those of the one behind him.
"No problem being exposed, right?" The 13th said, undeterred, raising his right hand and opening a finger cover. Instantly, a powerful suction emerged from the void.
"Black Hole."
The mist emitted by Kurogiri was immediately drawn into the 13th's "Black Hole" and absorbed rapidly like a vacuum.
Akira panted heavily, the thunder and lightning storm above subsiding.
"Thud."
Nomu fell to the ground, lifeless at last. Akira exhaled in relief, finally rid of his opponent. If his quirk's energy hadn't held out, he might not have survived this Nomu.
"It seems I've still got limits," Akira chuckled to himself. A single Nomu from the beginning stages had pushed him to his limit—what about the dark one, the one only Uncle Ou could handle?
Akira took a short rest, regaining his strength, then rushed toward the exit. He'd taken down one Nomu, but two remained. The dark one was fighting Aizawa Shouta in the central area, and the green one was somewhere unknown.
Now he had to help the 13th and his classmates. Since he was here, he couldn't just do nothing—he had to at least protect the 13th and Aizawa Shouta.
In the debris flow area.
"Picking you off one by one…" Shoto Todoroki looked coldly at the villains he'd frozen. "Though this isn't exactly fun, no matter how I see it, you guys are just quirk trash."
"This…this kid can still move…"
"Is he really just a kid…?"
"Ouch…hurts…"
The villains wailed. Were they the most unlucky group? They'd expected an easy fight against a kid, but the entire squad was wiped out in an instant.
Suddenly, a change occurred—Shoto Todoroki's pupils widened as a strong gust rushed toward him from behind. He dodged instinctively, but just a bit too late.
"Ah…" Shoto Todoroki's left arm was smashed, leaving it hanging limply as sweat covered his forehead. It was the second time he'd felt such pain, a familiar ache from his past.
The four-armed green Nomu stopped, turned to face Shoto Todoroki, and charged forward again.
Shoto Todoroki, unfazed, prepared himself. He knew the creature was strong, and if he didn't act, he'd be dead.
With a powerful kick, he evaded Nomu's lethal punch and slammed his foot to the ground. A stream of ice surged around Nomu's body, freezing it solid.
He backed away, knowing the villain wouldn't be defeated so easily. Ice alone wouldn't be enough to handle someone at this level.
Sure enough, Nomu shattered the ice, moving its limbs and staring down Shoto Todoroki with cold, dead eyes.
"What to do…" Shoto Todoroki felt an unusual sense of dread. Even facing Akira hadn't been this intimidating—this villain was seriously strong.
Nomu charged, aiming to crush Shoto Todoroki's head, its intent to kill clear—just as Shigaraki Tomura had ordered.
Then, a thunderous light lit the sky, and a massive pillar of lightning descended, striking Nomu into the ground.
"Pillar of Thunder!"
Akira descended from above, smiling at Shoto Todoroki. "Mr. Todoroki, this isn't the time to be in a daze—you'll get killed."
"Akira…" Shoto Todoroki relaxed, his tension easing as he recognized the lightning that marked Akira's arrival.