The training gym on the seventh floor lived up to its name. Kaminari took a quick look around and estimated the area to be about the size of U.A.'s entire basketball gym.
Note that it wasn't just a single basketball court but the entire gymnasium. However, unlike a traditional gym, this space didn't have tiered seating. Instead, it housed rows of fitness equipment, now pushed to the sides by Hero assistants to clear the battlefield.
"Kaminari, 'Snatch,' please head to the center of the arena," Midnight said with a smile, gesturing toward the designated area. "I'll take the others to the viewing area."
Everyone's eyes followed her hand, spotting two rows of comfortable sofas arranged neatly at the far side of the gym.
Kaminari and Snatch exchanged a brief glance before silently walking toward the middle of the gym.
"I hope everything goes smoothly…" Kaminari's mother murmured worriedly as she watched her son's back.
"Don't worry," Midnight reassured her gently. "With me and Mr. Aizawa here, nothing will go wrong."
Aizawa followed the group silently, brushing his bangs aside to reveal his narrow eyes. His calm but sharp gaze swept over the gym as he mentally prepared himself. If Kaminari tried to use any high-speed techniques like "Raikiri," Aizawa's Erasure Quirk would instantly shut him down.
As they settled into the viewing area, some of the Hero assistants and other idle staff from Midnight's agency gathered around the sidelines to watch the sparring match.
There were about twenty people in total, most of whom were women dressed in outfits reminiscent of Midnight's signature style.
"Well… that's definitely on brand," Kaminari thought as he caught sight of the audience.
"That's Kaminari Denki, huh?" one of the assistants murmured, her eyes lingering on the young Hero student. "He really does look good in person…"
"What? Are you, a thirty-year-old, interested in him too?" another teased.
"Oh, shut up!"
"He sings really well too. Maybe we should ask him to perform something later," someone else suggested.
"Good luck with that. He's not just some celebrity—he's a student at U.A., and you know how strict Midnight-senpai is about these things."
Their playful banter was cut short when something unusual happened on Kaminari's side of the gym.
Pikachu, who had been sitting obediently on Kaminari's shoulder, suddenly leapt into the air. A dazzling golden light erupted from its small body, drawing gasps from the audience.
"Wow! That's incredible!"
"It's like something out of a fantasy movie…"
"I love anything shiny!"
"You would," one assistant teased. "Your Quirk lets you control gold, after all."
As the light faded, Pikachu's familiar form was gone, replaced by Kaminari's striking 'Cancer's Golden Cloth.'
Meanwhile, Midnight stepped onto the sidelines, donning a headset and taking on the role of referee.
"Let's get started," she announced, her authoritative voice echoing across the gym. "This is a sparring match between the Pro Hero 'Snatch' and Hero Course student 'Raikage.' The rules are simple: no maiming, and absolutely no killing. Violators will be treated as villains and arrested on the spot."
Her sharp gaze swept over Kaminari and Snatch to emphasize the seriousness of her words.
"Understood," Kaminari said, his tone respectful but steady.
"Got it," Snatch replied curtly.
"Alright, then. Let the match begin!" Midnight's voice rang out clearly.
The energy in the room instantly shifted as everyone's attention locked onto the two combatants.
One second… two seconds… five seconds… ten seconds passed.
Yet neither Kaminari nor Snatch made a move. They simply stared at each other, the tension building in the silence.
"Uh… the battle has started!" Midnight repeated, sounding a little exasperated.
"Ah, Mr. Snatch, you can go first," Kaminari said with a polite smile, gesturing for him to take the lead.
"You're the junior, so you should start," Snatch replied firmly, shaking his head. It was clear he wasn't going to budge on this.
"Alright, then," Kaminari said with a shrug. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
His eyes gleamed with mischief as an idea struck him—a creative, slightly over-the-top idea that made his heart race with excitement.
"Pikachu, connect to the AI database," Kaminari ordered, his tone brisk. "Search for the file labeled 'One Piece' and locate the profile for 'Crocodile.'"
A faint golden light flickered from the collar of Kaminari's Cancer's Golden Cloth, forming a translucent screen in midair.
"Is this the one you meant?"
Because Pikachu had shifted into its AI form, it no longer used its playful "Pika, Pika" speech, opting instead for clear and precise language.
"Yep, that's the one!" Kaminari confirmed, grinning as he scanned the displayed information. "Record all the data."
"Understood. Data recording complete," the AI responded as the screen disappeared.
Satisfied, Kaminari turned back to Snatch, his smile widening. "Alright, I'm starting now!"
"Come at me," Snatch replied, his arms beginning to dissolve into streams of sand. The khaki-colored grains swirled around him like a protective aura.
Without missing a beat, Kaminari slid a hand to his waist and retrieved a gleaming 'Golden Poké Ball.' He threw it into the air with practiced ease, the metallic sphere catching the light as it soared upward.
Boom!
The Poké Ball exploded midair, releasing a shimmering mass of golden sand that hovered ominously above the battlefield.
"What… what is that?" Snatch muttered, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
The sight of the golden sand floating in the air left not only Snatch but everyone else stunned. Midnight, Aizawa, Kaminari's parents, Momo, and the Hero assistants all watched in disbelief.
Ignoring their reactions, Kaminari issued his next command. "Shape it into the 'Sand Crocodile!'"
The golden sand began to shift and mold itself, taking on a humanoid form. Within moments, a towering figure stood before Kaminari: a man with slicked-back hair, a long coat, a menacing scorpion hook for a hand, and a thick cigar clenched between his teeth.
Though the figure was unmistakably Crocodile, every inch of it, from its hair to its clothes was made of gleaming gold.
"Hah… what a shame," Kaminari thought as he examined his creation. "If only this nano-gold sand could change colors like SIS alloy. That would've been perfect."
Resolving to discuss the matter with Dr. Tenma later, Kaminari quickly refocused and offered a confident smile.
"Alright, meet your opponent—'Sand Crocodile,'" he declared.
As if on cue, the golden figure sneered mockingly, its cigar gleaming between its teeth. Even Snatch couldn't help but feel slightly unsettled by the sight.
***
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