The auditorium was massive, a sprawling space filled with rows upon rows of seats, each one occupied by a hopeful examinee. Kael found a spot near the back, his indifferent demeanor masking the nervous energy bubbling beneath the surface. The air was thick with anticipation, the collective excitement of hundreds of teenagers all vying for a chance to prove themselves. Kael scanned the room, his sharp eyes picking out familiar faces—Izuku Midoriya, nervously muttering to himself; Katsuki Bakugo, radiating his usual explosive confidence; Ochaco Uraraka, her cheerful smile a stark contrast to the tension in the room.
At the front of the auditorium, a stage stood empty, waiting for the presentation to begin. Kael leaned back in his seat, his mind racing. He knew what was coming: the practical exam, the robots, the rescue points. But knowing and doing were two very different things. He had trained, yes, but his control over his quirk was still shaky at best. One wrong move, one slip of emotion, and he could lose control entirely.
The lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd. A figure stepped onto the stage, and Kael's breath caught in his throat. It was Present Mic, the Voice Hero, his larger-than-life persona even more vibrant in person. Kael had seen him in the manga, of course, but seeing him now, in the flesh, was something else entirely.
"HEY, HEY, HEY!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the auditorium, his energy infectious. "Welcome, future heroes, to the U.A. High entrance exam! Can I get a YEAH?"
The response was lukewarm at best, a few scattered cheers drowned out by the nervous murmurs of the crowd. Present Mic didn't seem to mind, launching into an explanation of the practical exam with his trademark enthusiasm. Kael listened intently, though he already knew the details. Three types of robots, each worth a different number of points. Rescue points for helping others. The goal was simple: accumulate as many points as possible in the allotted time.
As Present Mic wrapped up his explanation, Kael's mind was already working, strategizing. He needed to focus on the smaller robots first, racking up points while conserving his energy. The larger robots were tempting targets, but they were also dangerous, and he couldn't afford to waste his stamina on them. Rescue points were a wildcard—he could earn them by helping others, but that would mean putting himself at risk. It was a delicate balance, one he would have to navigate carefully.
The examinees were divided into groups and sent to different testing sites. Kael found himself in Group B, alongside a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces. He kept to himself, his indifferent demeanor discouraging conversation as they were herded onto buses and driven to their designated location.
The testing site was a sprawling urban landscape, a mock city designed to simulate real-world hero scenarios. Kael stood at the edge of the group, his eyes scanning the area. The buildings were tall and imposing, the streets eerily quiet. It was a stark contrast to the bustling city he had grown accustomed to, a reminder of the stakes at hand.
Present Mic's voice crackled over the loudspeakers, counting down to the start of the exam. Kael took a deep breath, steadying himself. He could feel the storm inside him, restless and eager, waiting to be unleashed. He clenched his fists, focusing on his breathing. He couldn't afford to lose control, not here, not now.
"START!"
The word echoed through the testing site, and chaos erupted. Examinees surged forward, their quirks flaring to life as they raced to find robots and rack up points. Kael hung back for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. He needed to be smart about this. Rushing in blindly would only lead to mistakes.
A metallic clang drew his attention, and he turned to see a one-pointer robot rounding the corner, its red eyes scanning the area. Kael didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, summoning a gust of wind that sent the robot crashing into a wall. It sparked and sputtered before going still, and Kael allowed himself a small smirk. One point down, many more to go.
He moved through the streets with purpose, his quirk a constant presence at his fingertips. A two-pointer appeared, and Kael dispatched it with a well-placed lightning strike, the crackle of electricity echoing through the air. He was careful, precise, each movement calculated to conserve his energy. But as the minutes ticked by, the pressure began to mount. The other examinees were relentless, their quirks flashing in a dizzying array of colors and effects. Kael could feel the storm inside him growing restless, responding to the chaos around him.
A scream cut through the air, sharp and panicked. Kael turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a girl trapped beneath a pile of rubble, a three-pointer looming over her. His first instinct was to keep moving, to focus on his own score. But something stopped him—a flicker of guilt, a reminder of the hero he wanted to be.
He sprinted toward the girl, his quirk flaring to life. A gust of wind cleared the rubble, and a lightning strike took out the robot before it could attack. The girl looked up at him, her eyes wide with gratitude, but Kael didn't stick around to chat. He had already wasted enough time.
As the exam continued, Kael found himself falling into a rhythm. He moved through the streets like a shadow, his quirk a deadly extension of his will. But the storm inside him was growing harder to control, his emotions threatening to spill over. A surge of frustration sent a lightning strike arcing wildly, narrowly missing another examinee. Kael cursed under his breath, forcing himself to calm down. He couldn't afford to lose focus, not now.
The ground shook, a deep rumble that sent a chill down Kael's spine. He turned, his eyes widening as a massive zero-pointer robot emerged from the shadows, its sheer size dwarfing everything around it. The other examinees scattered, their earlier confidence evaporating in the face of the towering machine.
Kael hesitated, his mind racing. The zero-pointer wasn't worth any points, and taking it on would be a waste of energy. But as he watched it crush buildings and send debris flying, he realized he didn't have a choice. If he didn't do something, people would get hurt.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. The storm inside him roared to life, a tempest of wind and lightning swirling around him. He raised his hands, focusing all his energy into a single, devastating attack. The air crackled with electricity, the wind howling as it gathered around him. With a sharp exhale, he released it, a massive lightning strike slamming into the zero-pointer with enough force to send it staggering.
The robot teetered for a moment before collapsing, its massive frame crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. Kael dropped to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. The storm inside him had been unleashed, and he had paid the price. But as he looked around, he realized it had been worth it. The other examinees were safe, their wide eyes filled with awe and gratitude.
The loudspeakers crackled to life, signaling the end of the exam. Kael forced himself to his feet, his legs shaky but determined. He had done it. He had survived.
As he walked back to the buses, his mind was already turning to the future. The exam was over, but his journey was just beginning.