"Target locked. Eliminate."
The lead combat robot, armed with two sharp green spears, roared to life, its tracks spinning at high speed as it lunged toward Kaminari with alarming velocity. The other two robots flanked from the left and right, moving to encircle him.
"So fast!"
Kaminari's eyes widened as he tracked the incoming machine. It closed the distance almost instantly, and he had to admit Dr. Tenma hadn't exaggerated. These robots were significantly faster than the ones he'd fought before.
Crackle!
"God Speed—activate!"
Shua!
In a flash, Kaminari's figure became a streak of golden light, narrowly dodging the incoming spear strike. He landed smoothly at the robot's side, his gauntleted fist gleaming with golden energy as he clenched it tightly.
"You've gotten stronger? Well, guess what... so have I!"
"Lightning Fist!"
Boom!
A golden burst erupted as electricity surged from Kaminari's punch, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The force was so immense that it blew back his blond hair, yet his confident grin stayed firmly in place.
"Gotcha!"
But as the smoke cleared, Kaminari's smile faltered. The result wasn't what he'd expected.
The robot remained upright, its thick green exterior barely scratched. All Kaminari had managed to do was darken the paint slightly.
"Target locked. Eliminate."
Another robotic voice sounded from his right. Kaminari whipped his head around to see the second robot charging, its left arm raised to block with a shield while its right arm a massive blade was poised for a lethal strike.
"Damn it…"
Kaminari cursed as he assessed the situation. These robots weren't just fast; they were unnervingly precise. Their movements, attacks, and even their rotations were smooth and efficient like metal predators with minds of their own.
And their durability… it was leagues above anything he had faced during U.A.'s entrance exam. His punch, which he had fully expected to send the first robot flying, barely made a dent.
Boom!
The ground rumbled beneath him as the third robot took aim from behind, its arms shifting.
"What now?!"
Kaminari's stomach dropped as he realized what was happening. The robot had morphed its arms into twin rapid-fire machine guns.
"Wait, they're using live ammunition?!" Tetsutetsu shouted from the sidelines, his hands clenched into fists. He turned to Dr. Tenma, his voice rising in outrage. "How is this just a test? Why would you include something like that?!"
Dr. Tenma, however, remained unbothered, his expression calm. "Just keep watching. You'll understand soon enough."
Inside the arena, the sound of the machine guns revving up filled the air. Flames erupted from the barrels as countless bullets tore through the space between them and Kaminari.
"Be careful, Kaminari!!" Tetsutetsu shouted, his voice desperate.
But Kaminari didn't need the warning. His instincts were already screaming at him. The rapid barrage of bullets was too overwhelming to simply dodge with God Speed.
His mind raced. He had to use a higher-level ability.
"High-Voltage Mode—activate!"
He was about to push his Quirk to its limits, hoping that the combined speed and raw electric force would help him weather the storm. But before he could act, Cancer's Golden Cloth activated on its own.
"Critical threat detected. Defense function engaged."
"What?!"
Kaminari barely had time to process the words before the armor emitted a dazzling golden glow.
Bzzzzt!
A shimmering, circular energy shield expanded outward, enveloping Kaminari in a protective barrier just as the storm of bullets struck.
Pap-pap-pap-pap!
The sound of gunfire echoed in the arena as bullets collided with the shield, shattering on impact. Sparks flew as the glowing barrier held firm, deflecting the relentless assault.
"This… this is the defense function?" Kaminari muttered, staring in disbelief as the bullets disintegrated mere inches from his face. "It's… kind of like my Thunder Aegis…"
The machine gun fire continued for nearly a minute before the robot finally stopped, its ammo depleted. The ground below it was littered with glowing, copper-colored casings.
Meanwhile, Kaminari noticed something strange: during the entire exchange, the energy shield had not only protected him but seemed to suspend him in mid-air as well.
"Okay, that was way too much," he muttered under his breath, still catching his breath from the near-death experience. His expression twisted into one of annoyance as the shield began to fade. "You're done firing, right?"
The shield dissipated, and Kaminari felt gravity pulling him back down. At the same time, the other two robots charged at him again, their weapons gleaming with lethal intent.
But Kaminari wasn't panicking. Instead, he smirked and took a deep breath mid-air, confusing his audience.
"What's he doing?" Dr. Tenma asked, his sharp eyes narrowing as he noticed a faint golden glow gathering at Kaminari's mouth.
"Heh, here it comes," Tetsutetsu said, grinning excitedly from the sidelines.
Zzzzt!
In the next moment, Kaminari exhaled sharply, unleashing a brilliant golden beam from his mouth.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
The golden energy surged forward, engulfing the machine gun robot in an instant.
Boom!
A deafening explosion followed as the golden energy consumed its target, leaving behind nothing but flames and debris.
"Did… did he just shoot electricity out of his mouth?!" Dr. Tenma exclaimed, genuinely startled. "Why didn't he use this during the Hero Sports Festival?"
"It's simple," Tetsutetsu replied, crossing his arms smugly. "It's a move he's only developed recently. Kaminari's aiming to be the strongest lightning Hero out there!"
"…And let me guess," Dr. Tenma said dryly. "You're aiming to be the hardest Hero in the world?"
Tetsutetsu grinned. "Damn right!"
Inside the arena, the battle wasn't over yet.
A sharp, high-pitched screech cut through the air, audible even through the glass. Kaminari's attention snapped toward the remaining robots as a faint hum filled the space.
"That sound…!" Tetsutetsu gasped, his excitement building. "That's Raikiri!"
Dr. Tenma instinctively stepped closer to the glass, his eyes fixed on Kaminari's hands. A dark golden sphere of energy had formed in his palms, crackling with electric intensity.
"So this is Raikiri," he murmured, awe creeping into his voice.
In an instant, Kaminari activated High-Voltage Mode, his body vanishing in a flash of golden light.
"Too fast…" Mitsui muttered, squinting to track Kaminari's movements.
In the blink of an eye, Kaminari reappeared behind the two remaining robots. Golden flames flickered around his armor, his blonde hair standing on end as if charged with raw energy. He looked like a Super Saiyan clad in golden armor.
Kaminari turned his sharp, glowing eyes toward Dr. Tenma through the glass.
"The suit… it's incredible," he said quietly, his voice carrying a tone of genuine approval.
Boom!
Boom!
Behind him, the two robots erupted into flames, their destruction creating a stunning backdrop of fire and smoke.
Dr. Tenma watched Kaminari intently, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"This kid…" he muttered. "Creating a combat suit for him might just be one of the greatest achievement of my career."
***
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