Chapter 2: The Entrance Exam
Chapter 2: The Entrance Exam
Natsu took a deep breath, savoring the crisp autumn air as it brushed against his face, ruffling his unruly pink hair. Around him, a crowd of aspiring heroes stood gathered before the towering gates of Zone B. The massive structure loomed high, casting long shadows over the eager participants. The tension in the air was palpable, every face set with determination. These next ten minutes would be decisive—future heroes would rise or fall in the blink of an eye.
"[Begin now!]"
The sharp voice of the announcer broke through the heavy atmosphere, and the gates groaned open with mechanical precision. Like a dam releasing a flood, students surged forward into the battlefield, their shoes pounding against the concrete. The cacophony of shouting and rushed footsteps mixed with the faint hum of machinery in the distance.
In stark contrast to the frenzied participants, Natsu remained where he stood, his posture relaxed, bouncing lightly from foot to foot. His body swayed with an effortless rhythm as though he were warming up for a casual jog rather than a life-changing event. The others glanced at him with confusion, some even sneering. How could someone waste precious time standing still in such a high-stakes scenario?
The chaos began almost immediately. Explosions rocked the arena as robots burst apart under relentless attacks. Sparks lit up the sky, and smoke rose in plumes from every corner of Zone B. Amidst this chaos, Natsu finally opened his eyes, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. Small flames flickered at his feet, growing in intensity.
"Alright, time to have some fun!" he declared, his voice carrying a playful edge.
Whoosh!
With a fiery burst, Natsu shot forward, the ground beneath him scorched as he propelled himself with flames. The wind roared in his ears, and the battlefield blurred into streaks of gray and red. His sharp eyes caught sight of Midoriya, pressed against a wall, frozen in fear. A three-point robot advanced toward the green-haired boy, its mechanical claws glinting ominously in the sunlight.
Without hesitation, Natsu twisted midair, flipping downward with his hands outstretched. Flames roared to life, encasing his feet in blazing orange as he descended.
Crash!
Boom!
The robot exploded in a fiery spectacle, its pieces scattering across the ground. Natsu landed gracefully amid the wreckage, straightening as the flames around his feet flickered brightly. He turned to Midoriya, his expression equal parts amusement and exasperation.
"What are you doing? If you stay frozen like that, you'll fail, idiot," he teased, his tone light but pointed.
Before Midoriya could respond, Natsu was gone again, the force of his leap leaving scorch marks on the ground and a gust of hot wind that made Midoriya flinch. His hands clenched into fists as the words echoed in his mind. Determined not to let his training with All Might go to waste, he pushed himself to move, his body trembling but resolute.
Above the battlefield, six robots hovered ominously, their sleek designs gleaming in the sunlight. Natsu spotted them instantly, his lips curling into a grin. Without slowing down, he took a deep breath, his chest swelling as heat radiated from his body.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A massive torrent of fire erupted from his mouth, roaring upward to engulf the robots. The sky exploded in a cascade of flames and shrapnel as the targets were obliterated, leaving thick black smoke in their wake.
From a distance, Uraraka watched the spectacle with wide eyes, her jaw dropping in disbelief. The destruction was impressive, but as she glanced at the charred remains of what could have been her points, frustration bubbled up.
"Hey, what are you doing?! Those were easy points for me!" she shouted, her voice tinged with irritation.
Natsu turned to her, a cocky gleam in his eye. "Well, better smash them faster next time, because I'll steal more if you don't. See you around, Float Girl!"
Whoosh!
Before she could respond, he rocketed away, leaving her standing amidst the chaos, her face red with exasperation. "Float Girl?" she muttered, shaking her head.
Meanwhile, Natsu set his sights on another target—a two-point robot moving sluggishly across the field. Flames ignited at his feet as he prepared to strike, but before he could close the distance, a blur of blue and white zipped past him.
Crash!
The robot crumpled under a precise kick, dismantled in an instant. Natsu skidded to a halt, watching as Iida landed gracefully, adjusting his glasses with a calm demeanor.
"No hard feelings," Iida remarked, his tone even. "This is a test, after all. The first to strike wins."
A grin spread across Natsu's face, his competitive spirit ignited. "Looks like you're not just a bookworm after all."
The battlefield grew more chaotic by the second. Explosions thundered across Zone B as participants unleashed their quirks with everything they had. Smoke and debris filled the air, mixing with the shouts of determination and occasional cries of alarm.
In the observation room above, the principal of UA Academy watched the unfolding chaos with keen eyes. Surrounding him were instructors, their expressions a mix of intrigue and approval. All Might stood among them, his arms crossed as he observed the promising candidates.
The principal, calm as ever, leaned forward slightly. "Our stars are beginning to shine. Some of them are already showing us they have what it takes. But the real test begins now..."
His paw hovered over a large red button, and with a deliberate motion, he pressed it.
---
In Zone B, the ground trembled violently, shaking students to their cores. Dust and rubble fell from nearby buildings, and for a moment, confusion and fear reigned. Then, the cause of the tremors revealed itself.
From the depths of the battlefield, a Zero-Point Robot emerged, its colossal form towering above the arena. Its shadow stretched across the ground, darkening the faces of the students below. The machine swung one massive arm, shattering a building with terrifying ease. Debris rained down like a storm, scattering the participants as panic set in.
Natsu stood his ground, a single bead of sweat sliding down his cheek. Despite the odds, a grin tugged at his lips. "Well... this wasn't part of the plan."
Behind him, Midoriya crawled across the rubble, his breath ragged. His eyes widened as a desperate cry for help cut through the chaos. Turning toward the sound, he spotted Uraraka pinned beneath a pile of debris, her face pale with effort.
[....]
The arena of Zone B trembled as the colossal Zero-Point Robot lumbered into motion, its towering frame eclipsing the buildings below. Massive gears whirred and groaned with mechanical menace, and each step sent shockwaves rippling through the shattered ground. The once-organized testing area had become a chaotic battlefield, its clean lines erased by explosions, debris, and fear.
Students scattered in every direction, their shouts blending with the deafening clamor of collapsing structures and the whirring drones of smaller robots still patrolling the field. The message was clear: fighting this monstrous machine was futile. It held no point value, only danger.
Among the fleeing figures, Midoriya crawled across the rubble-strewn ground, his heart hammering in his chest. Dust clung to his sweat-soaked face, his instincts screaming at him to run. But then—
"Help!"
A voice rose above the chaos, sharp and desperate. Midoriya froze, his wide, green eyes darting toward the sound. Through the haze of dust and destruction, he spotted Uraraka pinned beneath a collapsed structure, her hand reaching feebly toward the sky.
Panic turned to determination in an instant. Midoriya scrambled to his feet, his body trembling but resolute. Fear battled with resolve as he stared at the towering robot, its massive arm raising to strike again.
At the same time, Natsu stood atop a jagged slab of concrete, his pink hair ruffling in the hot wind. Flames flickered around his clenched fists, reflecting the glint of his sharp, determined gaze. "I don't know exactly what I'm going to do," he muttered, his voice low but steady, "but I'll figure it out."
With a roar of flames, Natsu propelled himself into the air, his scarf trailing behind him like a banner of defiance. The heat around him intensified, distorting the air as he rocketed toward the robot's midsection. But before he could close the gap, something streaked past him, faster than he could track.
A gust of wind and raw power shook Natsu midair, forcing him to stabilize. His eyes widened as he turned toward the source—a green blur shooting toward the robot's head, glowing with an otherworldly energy.
"What the—?" Natsu muttered, barely able to process the sheer velocity.
Midoriya, his body coursing with the raw strength of One For All, hurtled toward the Zero-Point Robot. His determined expression was set in stone, his glowing fist cocked back, ready to deliver a blow that defied reason.
"SMASH!!!"
The impact was cataclysmic. Midoriya's punch collided with the robot's head, unleashing a shockwave so powerful it shook the very foundations of the arena. The sound of metal crumpling and splitting echoed like a thunderclap, and flames erupted from the robot's core as it began to collapse.
Suspended in the air, Natsu was closest to the explosion's epicenter. Heat and debris surged toward him, threatening to engulf everything in their path. But Natsu wasn't about to let the flames consume him.
Inhaling deeply, his chest swelled as he pulled the fire toward himself, his body glowing with an intense, fiery aura. His sharp features were illuminated by the blaze, and the students below watched in awe as he absorbed the flames with an almost primal grace.
When the inferno finally subsided, Natsu descended gently to the ground, wisps of fire flickering around his feet. He exhaled with a satisfied grin, wiping his mouth. "Thanks for the meal!"
The students stared, dumbfounded. Natsu had not only survived the explosion but had neutralized its fiery aftermath. Yet, the moment was short-lived.
Thud!
Midoriya's limp body crashed down from above, colliding with Natsu and sending them both sprawling onto the dusty ground. Natsu groaned, lifting his head with a scowl. "Midoriya, do I look like a pillow to you? If you're trying to kill yourself, at least fall somewhere else!"
But as he pushed himself upright, his gaze fell on Midoriya's arm—and his expression shifted from irritation to shock.
"Hey... what the hell happened to you?" Natsu asked, his voice quieter now.
Midoriya's arm and legs were twisted at unnatural angles, the bones visibly broken. His face was pale, contorted in pain, and his breathing came in shallow gasps. Before Natsu could get an answer, Midoriya's eyes fluttered shut, and he slipped into unconsciousness.
The surrounding students gathered hesitantly, murmurs spreading like wildfire. Whispers of awe and fear mixed in the air. "Did you see that punch?" "But look at his arm—was it worth it?" "What kind of quirk destroys the user like that?"
Iida stepped forward, adjusting his glasses with a grim expression. "I can't believe this… The two students I thought were the least capable caused all of this commotion."
Nearby, Uraraka, freed from the rubble by Iida's quick thinking, stood frozen. Her wide eyes were fixed on Midoriya, her voice trembling. "Wait... his arm..."
The speakers above crackled to life, interrupting the rising tension. "Ten minutes have passed! The entrance exam is over!"
A collective sigh of relief swept through the arena. Some students collapsed where they stood, exhausted but grateful. Others groaned in frustration, worried they hadn't done enough to pass.
Natsu remained silent, staring at Midoriya's unconscious form as two medical robots arrived to carry him away. 'At the start of this exam, I thought he was just a coward,' Natsu thought, his fists tightening. 'But in the final moments, he became the star of the test. I've never felt slower or weaker in my life…'
The sound of small, deliberate footsteps broke his reverie. An elderly woman in a white lab coat and glasses approached, her expression one of practiced calm.
"Alright, make some room, kids!" she called, kneeling beside Midoriya with a sigh. "Yare, yare… Another reckless one. It's been a while since I've seen injuries this severe in the entrance exam. Foolish, but impressive."
The students exchanged curious glances as Recovery Girl kissed Midoriya's broken hand. Her quirk worked its magic, knitting his shattered bones back together. Still, she shook her head. 'This boy… He doesn't know his limits yet. That kind of recklessness will only lead to more pain.'
As the medical team carried Midoriya away, Uraraka hesitated before turning to Natsu. "Excuse me," she said softly. When Natsu glanced at her, she added, "Thank you for trying to save me earlier. I'm sorry I yelled at you before."
Natsu smirked, shrugging. "No big deal. But you know who you really need to thank, right?"
Uraraka nodded, her eyes drifting toward Midoriya as she hurried to follow the medical team.
Natsu turned toward the exit, his expression contemplative. His scarf fluttered in the wind as he muttered to himself, "If there's someone stronger than me… then I just need to surpass them. My flames won't stop here."
.
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