All Might's voice echoed across the training grounds, calling the third group of contestants to take their positions. Kaminari raised an eyebrow, brushing his golden bangs aside as he stood up.
He exchanged a quick wave with Kyoka and the others before stepping into the field alongside Todoroki, Bakugo, Tokoyami, and Aoyama.
"It's up to you, Kaminari!"
"Don't worry, I've got this!" he replied with a grin.
"Slap!"
He and Tetsutetsu exchanged a high five, their camaraderie on full display before Kaminari walked off to his starting point.
The third group of the competition was about to begin.
"This time, I'll win!" Bakugo muttered, glancing at Kaminari and Todoroki as they walked ahead of him. His crimson eyes burned with determination as he clenched his fists.
Compared to the Bakugo from the original timeline, this version of him carried a far heavier burden. In this life, Todoroki wasn't the only one outshining him in class.
Not only were Kaminari and Todoroki ahead of him, but even Midoriya someone he used to see as weaker had caught up faster than expected. Add Tokoyami, who had always been consistent, and Tetsutetsu, who had rapidly improved, and Bakugo's frustration had reached its boiling point.
When he first applied to U.A., he'd been determined to become the "strongest" and the "number one hero."
But now? He wasn't even sure he could claim a spot in the top three of Class 1-A.
On the other side of the arena, Kaminari had chosen his starting point: a steel pillar towering high above the industrial training field.
He hadn't put much thought into the location, as All Might's "rescue spot" was different in every round. Still, standing atop the pillar, Kaminari had a perfect view of the entire Sports Field Y.
"Huh… no matter how many times I see this, I can't help but be amazed by U.A.'s resources." Kaminari let out a low whistle, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
"This isn't just a high school. It's a massive, state-of-the-art training organization!"
As he stretched and warmed up, Kaminari began thinking about his strategy.
Should he go straight into God-Speed? Or maybe use his High Voltage Mode right off the bat? Then again, this could be a good chance to practice his Iron Sand Series.
In truth, Kaminari didn't view the Iron Sand Series as a "finisher" or "ultimate move." To him, it was more of an "opening act" or "defensive layer."
In his imagined battle scenarios, the Iron Sand Series was the first line of defense, an initial barrier that the enemy would have to break through before he unleashed his full power.
"Since it's meant to be my first line of defense, I should use it more often to refine it," he thought, nodding to himself.
With his decision made, Kaminari closed his eyes and began steadying his breathing.
"Third match, START!!"
"BOOM!"
The moment All Might's voice rang out, a deafening explosion followed. Everyone on the viewing platform turned their heads as the camera focused on Bakugo Katsuki, who had blasted himself into the air using his explosions. Fire and smoke trailed behind him as he soared across the field.
"The winner is me!" Bakugo shouted confidently, his voice brimming with his usual fiery charisma.
"Whoosh!"
On another screen, Todoroki was seen gliding across a path of ice he'd created beneath his feet, advancing steadily toward All Might. While he couldn't fly like Bakugo, his icy road made short work of the obstacles in his path.
"Zap!"
A sudden flash of light caught everyone's attention. The camera panned to Aoyama, who was speeding forward by firing his naval laser behind him. He struck a dramatic pose as he zipped across the arena, looking far too pleased with himself.
"Did you all see that?!" Aoyama declared, his voice full of flair. "Look at me! Look how brilliantly I shine!"
CLANG!
A thunderous metallic collision rang out, immediately followed by Aoyama's panicked scream.
The spectators groaned in unison as the camera showed Aoyama, now plastered against a large steel pipe. His pose hadn't changed at all, giving him the appearance of a bizarre, humanoid poster stuck to the metal.
"Seriously?" Kyoka muttered in disbelief.
"He was so busy showing off that he didn't notice the pipe behind him," Momo said, shaking her head.
"Well, at least his laser is strong," Asui commented lightly, noting the dent Aoyama had left in the pipe.
With Aoyama effectively out of the running, the others turned their attention to Tokoyami and Kaminari.
Tokoyami's performance wasn't anything extraordinary. Without yet developing the ability to fly using Dark Shadow, he could only rely on his natural agility to parkour through the industrial landscape.
"Hey, look at Kaminari!" Sero suddenly shouted. "What… what is that?!"
"Is that… a black cloud?" someone murmured.
The camera switched to Kaminari's perspective, but the screen was so dark that it was hard to make out anything.
"What's he up to now?" Tetsutetsu wondered aloud, the confusion evident in his tone.
"Wait, zoom in!"
As the camera zoomed in, everyone could finally see Kaminari's location. He was floating above the field on what appeared to be a sleek, black platform.
"Is that a… skateboard?" Asui tilted her head, her expression puzzled.
"No, it's too big. It looks more like a surfboard," Uraraka corrected, leaning forward for a better look.
Indeed, Kaminari was standing on what resembled a black, streamlined surfboard. He balanced himself with a casual surfing posture, his body tilted forward slightly as he glided through the air.
To add a dramatic flair, he'd surrounded himself with a swirling ring of iron sand, which orbited him like a planetary ring.
Kaminari's intent was clear, this wasn't just about winning. This was about looking good.
"As expected of an industrial zone," he muttered to himself, surveying the environment. "There's way more iron sand here than there was back in the forests of Aokigahara!"
From a higher vantage point, the scene was striking. Bakugo's fiery explosions lit up one section of the field, while Todoroki's frosty terrain stretched across another. Kaminari, with his dark, stormy aesthetic, stood out as a menacing presence.
"Are those… iron sand particles?" All Might squinted at the rotating ring around Kaminari, his sharp eyes capturing every detail like a high-definition camera.
"But how is he controlling them?" All Might wondered aloud. "Or… has he awakened a second Quirk?"
***
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All Might's thoughts mirrored Momo's earlier speculation about Tetsutetsu, but he still found the situation incredible.
In this world, while the understanding of Quirk Awakening isn't perfect, the basic rules are well established.
Most people awaken their Quirks before the age of four, and certainly no later than six. For Kaminari to suddenly "awaken" something new now? That was bizarre, to say the least.
If it wasn't an awakening, though, then what could it be?
"Kaminari…"
All Might frowned as he thought about the electrifying young man. The more he pondered, the more curious and bewildered he became. Kaminari was a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out.
Meanwhile, Kaminari paid no attention to All Might or anyone else for that matter. Even if he could guess what others were thinking, he wouldn't care.
To him, the Iron Sand Series was like the Six Styles: a secret skill.
The concept of combining "meditation" and "electric current manipulation" to control magnetism was something Kaminari planned to keep to himself.
It wasn't as if he was the only lightning Quirk user in the world. While his abilities were unique in some ways, the basic principles were the same as other electricity-based Quirks.
Take that electricity Quirk villain he encountered during the USJ attack, if people like that got wind of his technique, they might be able to reverse-engineer it. And who's to say they wouldn't use it against him in the future?
The bottom line was simple: why should he share this method with anyone?
Kaminari had no desire to be some benevolent teacher handing out techniques for free. He wasn't obligated to give others the tools to compete with him.
The first person to finish the race soon arrived at the designated location: Bakugo Katsuki.
But despite finishing first, Bakugo's face was a mask of frustration rather than triumph. His eyes were locked on Kaminari as he approached on his floating iron sand.
"He… he's gotten even stronger again…"
Bakugo's hands trembled as memories of the past week flooded his mind.
"What the hell was I doing these past seven days?"
Hairdressing, trying on jeans, patrolling…
"Damn it!!!"
Regret and rage swirled in his chest. If he could go back, he would never have chosen Best Jeanist for his workplace experience. Never!
It was painfully clear now: Best Jeanist's polished and professional approach wasn't compatible with Bakugo's explosive nature.
With a gust of wind, Kaminari floated down gracefully on his "flying iron plate." Just as it was about to touch the ground, the plate disintegrated into iron sand, swirling behind him like a shadowy storm.
Strangely, even after landing, Kaminari kept his eyes closed. He stood silently in front of All Might and Bakugo, as though lost in thought.
Moments later, Todoroki arrived on a path of gleaming ice. Tokoyami followed soon after, his expression as calm and reserved as ever. Lastly, there was Aoyama, stubbornly propelling himself forward with his naval laser.
Aoyama's persistence was… admirable, if not slightly comical. His glittering cape was in tatters, and his uniform was covered in dirt and scrapes from countless falls. But no matter how many times he stumbled, he refused to walk on two legs like a normal person.
Meanwhile, Kaminari was deep in thought, oblivious to the others around him.
"What should I do with this iron sand?" he wondered. "Just leave it here? Seems like a waste…"
Then, something extraordinary happened.
Centered on the platform where Kaminari, All Might, and Bakugo stood, iron sand began rising from the surrounding area. From the soil, from cracks in the pipes, and even from the steel structures themselves, black particles floated into the air.
The swirling iron sand coalesced into an enormous mass, moving with an almost sentient intelligence.
"What is he doing now?" All Might muttered, narrowing his eyes at the display.
Even Bakugo's usual scowl gave way to wide-eyed disbelief as the black mass continued to grow.
It was clear that Kaminari wasn't just experimenting. He was about to do something… dramatic.
In truth, Kaminari had a mischievous plan brewing in his mind.
He wanted to make a mark on U.A.—to leave something unforgettable. He wasn't just here to compete; he wanted to create a legend.
"Alright, maybe this is a bit over the top," he admitted to himself. "But hey, if I'm going to do this, I might as well go all out!"
And so, with unwavering focus, he continued shaping the iron sand.
On the viewing platform, the rest of Class 1-A watched in stunned silence.
Tetsutetsu, Kirishima, Momo, Kyoka, all of them were speechless as the swirling mass began to take shape.
Two minutes later, when Kaminari's "work" was complete, the entire arena was left in shock.
Standing in the center of Sports Field Y was a towering, ten-meter-tall sculpture made entirely of iron sand.
The sculpture was an exact replica of Kaminari himself, dressed in his battle gear and striking a heroic pose. The black iron figure loomed over the industrial landscape, gazing toward the U.A. teaching building like a silent guardian.
From the perspective of the satellite cameras, the scene was surreal. The massive, dark figure stood out starkly against the dense industrial environment, its shadow stretching ominously across the field.
Silence fell over the field and the viewing platform.
Whether it was Todoroki, Bakugo, or the rest of the class, everyone stared at the sculpture with their mouths agape.
Finally, it was All Might who broke the silence, his voice trembling.
"Kaminari… what… what are you doing?!"
Kaminari opened his golden eyes slowly and turned to face All Might. Without a hint of embarrassment, he gestured toward the sculpture and smiled.
"I thought the scenery here was too boring, so I decided to make some art for the school. At the same time, I tested my new Quirk, Iron Control!"
"Art… artwork?" All Might's face twitched as he tried to process the absurdity of what he'd just heard.
"No, wait—what did you just say?" he stammered. "New Quirk?"
Kaminari nodded confidently.
"Yep, I awakened the ability to control iron sand five days ago. It's still a bit rough, though. I have to close my eyes and concentrate to use it properly."
He smiled again, his expression calm and collected.
Yes, this was his plan all along: to pass off the Iron Sand Series as a newly awakened Quirk.
***
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