Chapter 269: Kaminari and Momo’s Confrontation!

Staring at the Vulpix, Principal Nezu was genuinely surprised. He muttered to himself, "I expected them to use this artificial intelligence, but I didn't expect Yaoyorozu to send it in alone."

Even as he processed this, his hands didn't slow down. The moment Vulpix adopted an attacking stance, he had already yanked the control stick, swinging the massive iron wrecking ball straight at it.

Since Vulpix wasn't a living creature, Nezu saw no need to hold back.

Seeing the enormous ball hurtling toward it, Vulpix didn't stay still. It crouched low, then launched itself backward with its powerful hind legs, dodging the attack with ease.

But in doing so, its direct charge toward Nezu was blocked, forcing it to release a stream of fire at the iron ball instead.

BOOM!

The column of scorching flames struck the center of the iron ball, but within a second, the sheer weight and velocity of the ball snuffed out the flames, reducing them to scattered embers. The only result was a slight red glow on the iron's surface.

For the next several moments, Nezu and Vulpix continued their intense back-and-forth.

Every time Vulpix attempted to get closer, the iron ball's trajectory would shift with impeccable precision, intercepting its path perfectly.

This was a battle of intelligence, a war waged purely through advanced calculation.

Nezu's High-Level Mind Quirk and Vulpix's artificial intelligence clashed at extreme speeds, both running complex attack and defense simulations in an invisible mathematical space.

The iron ball was heavy, Vulpix was agile. The iron ball couldn't land a direct hit, and Vulpix couldn't break through its defense.

---

"This is bad. If I keep stalling like this… once Yaoyorozu and Ashido get here, it's game over for me!"

For the first time, Nezu's expression turned serious.

His right hand still controlled the joystick with rapid precision, but his left hand previously occupied with his teacup was now entirely still.

"As a strategist, I can dominate when I control the battlefield from afar. But once my opponent closes in, my chances drop significantly, especially if they manage to get those heavy-duty compression cuffs on me."

His calculations intensified. His hand movements sped up.

"I don't mind losing to my cute students. But losing to an artificial intelligence and in the field of calculations, my specialty?! Unacceptable!"

Unfortunately, even with his Quirk, artificial intelligence was no joke. At least in short bursts, Vulpix's computational power was on par with Nezu's own.

Then—

"I found them!!!"

Nezu's sharp eyes caught sight of movement in the distance.

Sure enough, Momo and Mina had appeared on the far end of the battlefield.

They looked completely exhausted, sweat-drenched, breathless, and utterly disheveled. Their chests heaved from exertion, faces flushed from the relentless chase.

But despite their battered state… both were grinning.

They had made it.

"Mina-chan, go help Vulpix! See if you can get rid of that iron ball. Leave the rest to me." Momo raised her arm, activating her Quirk as she smiled confidently.

"Got it!"

Mina, without hesitation, sprinted toward the wrecking ball. She didn't hold back, hurling a fresh wave of highly concentrated acid at the already overheated iron.

"Sssssss!"

Sure enough, while Vulpix's flames had little effect, acid was a different story. The iron rapidly corroded, disintegrating at a visible rate.

---

"Mr. Principal—you lose."

On the other side of the battlefield, Momo stood firm, an RPG launcher perched on her shoulder, aimed directly at Nezu.

"Alright, alright," Nezu chuckled, shaking his head in resignation.

The moment he saw the weapon, he stopped his frantic joystick movements.

With a small sigh, he finally lifted his forgotten teacup and took one last sip, his tea now cold.

---

Shortly after, Nezu climbed down from the crane and met with Momo, Mina, and Vulpix in the open clearing.

Mina looked absolutely thrilled with their victory, while Momo maintained her usual calm, gentle smile.

"You had two paths—you could've searched for the correct escape route or taken the riskier option and confronted me directly. You chose the latter.

And despite facing countless obstacles along the way, you didn't hesitate to break through each one. That kind of determination is something every hero should strive for."

Nezu smiled warmly at them.

Truthfully, he had anticipated that they might take this approach but he hadn't been entirely sure.

Either way, he had made sure not to completely block off their escape routes. If he had been truly intent on denying them victory, he could have sealed every possible exit before they even got close.

The fact that they had reached him at all proved that he had held back.

Hearing Nezu's words, Momo and Mina exchanged a glance. Then, at the same time, they raised their fists and shouted.

"This is the hero's resolve—PLUS ULTRA!!!"

"Oh?!" Nezu's eyes sparkled with amusement.

Then, he grinned.

"Yes! That's Plus Ultra!"

---

DING!

"Momo Yaoyorozu and Mina Ashido—Exam Passed!"

---

Back in the monitoring room, the announcement echoed throughout the testing facility.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

"THEY DID IT!!"

The entire room erupted into cheers.

The tension had been so intense, everyone had been so engrossed in watching the battle unfold, that they had barely even breathed until the results were confirmed.

"Kaminari! Momo and Mina passed!"

Kyoka turned to share her excitement.

But—

"…Huh? Where's Kaminari?"

The spot beside her, where Kaminari had been standing and holding her hand just moments ago, was suddenly empty.

---

Outside, just beyond the simulated industrial zone.

Momo, still mentally and physically drained, was walking alongside an exuberant Mina, heading toward the exit.

"Mina-chan, you're seriously full of energy," Momo murmured, shaking her head.

Suddenly—

"You did great out there, Momo."

A familiar voice cut through the air.

Both girls stopped in their tracks and turned toward the source.

Kaminari stood there, waiting for them.

"You're here? What for?" Mina asked, lowering her still-waving arms in curiosity.

Kaminari chuckled. "First of all—congrats. Everyone saw how hard you both worked."

At that moment, Kaminari's gold-trimmed jacket billowed in the wind. The words "First Generation Raikage" shimmered in gold on the back, glowing under the sunlight.

With the way the light hit him, he practically radiated.

Then, his gaze sharpened.

"But… I need to talk to Momo, alone."

---

"Alone?"

Mina blinked.

Then, her inner gossip radar kicked in.

Her eyes darted between Kaminari and Momo, brimming with curiosity.

But neither of them acknowledged her.

Instead, Kaminari and Momo simply stared at each other, holding their own silent conversation through their gazes.

Momo knew exactly what Kaminari wanted to ask.

And Kaminari was waiting for her answer.

Momo finally sighed, then turned to Mina.

"Mina-chan… can you give us a moment?"

"Huh? Oh… fine," Mina huffed dramatically but ultimately relented.

But before she left.

"Kaminari, don't bully Momo!" she warned.

Kaminari smirked. "Yeah, yeah."

Finally, only two people remained outside the industrial zone.

The wind rustled through the air, carrying a quiet tension between them.

Momo's Vulpix curled up by her feet, standing as her silent guardian.

After a long pause.

Kaminari was the first to speak.

"…Why didn't you use the Golden Sand I gave you?"

Momo smiled.

"Yes… using it would've made everything so much easier, wouldn't it?"

Kaminari stayed silent.

He didn't understand.

She knew this.

So why?

Why had she deliberately chosen the harder path?

***

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