The stadium erupted in a cacophony of cheers and shouts, a roaring wave of exhilaration that washed over the entire arena. The crowd, a vast sea of faces, was captivated by the intense battle that had just unfolded between Lena Oxton and Shoto Todoroki, a spectacle of raw power and strategic prowess. Both combatants, despite their youth, had fought with a ferocity and skill that rivaled seasoned Pro Heroes, leaving the audience breathless.
Lena, having pushed her Quirk to its absolute limits, her body drained of all energy, collapsed forward onto the cold, hard platform, falling completely unconscious. The residual celestial lightning bolts that had previously arced and crackled around her body had now entirely dissipated, leaving her vulnerable and still.
Todoroki, still somewhat dazed by the surreal, terrifying display of Lena's power, instinctively reached out, catching her falling form. His mask of composure, usually so unyielding, had completely shattered, revealing a face etched with perplexity, confusion, and profound shock. The image of Lena's glowing, lightning-infused eyes was seared into his mind, an unsettling vision he knew he would never forget.
"SHOTOO WINS!! THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SHOW OF RAW POWER AND TACTICAL BRILLIANCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! GIVE IT UP FOR SHOTO TODOROKI!" Present Mic's booming voice, filled with an almost frantic excitement, echoed through the stadium, momentarily snapping Todoroki out of his daze.
Almost immediately, medical robots, their metallic forms gleaming under the stadium lights, swiftly arrived on the platform, moving with precise, efficient motions. They gently but firmly placed Lena onto a stretcher, their automated systems ensuring her careful transport to the medical room for immediate attention.
Todoroki watched them go, still somewhat bewildered by the preceding events, before slowly, mechanically, walking towards the stands where his classmates were gathered. His mind, however, was not on his victory or the roaring crowd. It was consumed by a single, haunting image: Lena's glowing eyes, eyes that had seemed to twist reality itself.
He couldn't get the image out of his head. It was as if he wasn't seeing Lena, but something else entirely. Something ancient, something primordial, something terrifying.
What... was that?
"That was quite the spectacle, wouldn't you agree, Winston?" David Shield said, his voice laced with a mixture of awe and profound concern, as he turned his head to look at his longtime friend, whose face was a mask of utter astonishment. "I have never seen anything quite like that before... a Quirk that twists reality itself? It's simply unheard of!"
"Indeed, David... indeed," Winston murmured, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes wide and fixed on the colossal screen that was replaying the final moments of Lena's and Todoroki's battle in slow motion, highlighting every chilling detail. He had witnessed every single one of his daughter's unique Quirk evolutions, from its very first, subtle flickers as a baby, to the terrifying, raw power she had just displayed. Yet, he had never, not once, seen anything remotely akin to what he had just witnessed. It defied all his scientific knowledge, all his understanding of Quirks. "Lena... just transcended reality itself..."
"Transcend reality?" Dr. Angela Ziegler questioned, her voice filled with a rare, scientific curiosity that bordered on obsession, as she leaned forward in her seat, her gaze fixed intently on Lena's form on the screen. Her analytical mind was already dissecting the phenomena, attempting to categorize and understand. "Are you implying that the young Oxton possesses the formidable ability to manipulate, or perhaps even distort, the very fabric of space-time? A truly remarkable Quirk, if that is indeed the case. Such an ability would be invaluable, not only for heroism but for countless scientific applications."
"I... I honestly don't know, Angela," Winston admitted, his voice strained, as he clutched his head in deep frustration, his mind reeling from the unquantifiable nature of what he had just seen. His extensive knowledge, his years of scientific research, seemed utterly useless in the face of this unprecedented event. "Her Quirk is simply too unique, too... chaotic. Every single time I think I've finally figured it out, it defies all my expectations, evolving into something new, something inexplicable. It just continuously, persistently, challenges everything I thought I knew about Quirks."
"That's because you're approaching it from the wrong angle, Winston, you foolish old man," David said, his voice returning to his usual cheerful, almost teasing, tone, as he watched his friend's frustrated reaction with a knowing, almost mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're trying to understand Lena's Quirk as if it were a purely biological phenomenon, a predictable, quantifiable ability. But her Quirk... it's not simply a biological anomaly, is it? It's something far more profound, far more ethereal. It's a fundamental aspect of reality itself, a primordial force."
Winston sighed, a sound of weary resignation, before reluctantly conceding. "Indeed, David. Indeed."
"So, what do you think? How will the main event proceed now? We have only two matches left before the grand finale, don't we?" Angela asked, her voice brimming with renewed excitement, turning her attention back to the Festival. The allure of the Quirks, their raw power, quickly eclipsed her previous scientific curiosity.
"ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE ARE NOW HALFWAY THROUGH THE MAIN EVENT! SO, LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE NEXT ELECTRIFYING BATTLE!" Present Mic's voice roared, cutting through the lingering buzz of the previous match, as the large screen in the stadium once again displayed the bracket for the tournament.
The next bout was between Class 1-A's own Mezo Shoji and Izuku Midoriya.
"I still don't understand how Lena managed to put up with this much noise and people," Shoji Mezo muttered under his breath, his deep voice barely audible amidst the roaring crowd, as he prepared himself at the starting line. He looked at Izuku Midoriya, who was visibly trembling, almost like a frightened leaf, from the sheer, overwhelming amount of people watching his every move.
Shoji could sense Midoriya's fear, a palpable aura of apprehension emanating from the nervous boy. But he also sensed something else, something far more potent and unwavering: a fierce, unyielding determination, a burning desire to push past his limits, to prove himself worthy.
'He might be scared, but he's undoubtedly a strong opponent... I must not underestimate him, not for a second,' Shoji thought, his multi-limbed body tensing, preparing for the intense battle ahead.
"BEGIN!" Present Mic's voice boomed, signaling the start of the battle.
Immediately, Midoriya, channeling the raw power of One For All into his right hand, unleashed a formidable 'Detroit Smash' directly at Shoji. The force of the punch was immense, creating a powerful concussive blast that sent a wave of wind rushing across the stadium.
Shoji, caught by surprise by Midoriya's immediate, full-force attack, was sent hurtling backward through the air. However, before he could be sent flying out of the arena, he instinctively used his multiple limbs to skillfully anchor himself to the ground, his body serving as a resilient, living shield against the immense force.
"That was incredibly powerful..." Shoji muttered, his voice strained, as he quickly recovered his footing and looked at Midoriya, who was now clutching his right hand, which was visibly bruised and bleeding, a testament to the raw power he had just unleashed and its devastating recoil.
"I will not give up! Not yet!" Midoriya roared, his voice filled with unwavering determination, as he tried to channel the power of One For All into his left hand, aiming for another powerful punch.
Shoji simply sighed, a weary exhalation, as he adopted a defensive posture, bracing himself for the inevitable incoming attack. He had to admit, Midoriya's resilience and sheer willpower were truly impressive, almost terrifying. But could willpower alone overcome raw strength and a Quirk that was far more suited for defense?
"Midoriya!" Shoji shouted, launching himself forward, his powerful limbs a blur of motion, intent on reaching Midoriya before he could land another damaging blow.
The battle continued for a few grueling minutes, a relentless exchange of blows and tactical maneuvers. Midoriya, despite his increasingly damaged body, continued to fight with a fierce, unyielding determination, refusing to back down. Shoji, meanwhile, tirelessly defended against Midoriya's relentless attacks, absorbing the immense impacts with his resilient body, waiting for his opponent to finally falter.
In the end, it was a battle of attrition, a clash of wills. And ultimately, Shoji's superior resilience and defensive capabilities prevailed.
Midoriya, his body broken and battered, his strength finally failing him, collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted, his right arm and two fingers of his left hand severely damaged.
"SHOJI WINS! HE ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS!" Present Mic announced, his voice filled with admiration for both combatants' unwavering determination.
Deep within a desolate, cavernous lair, bathed in the eerie, flickering glow of multiple monitors, a woman with vibrant red hair, her eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity, sat hunched over her sophisticated equipment. This was Moira O'Deorain, her gaze fixed intently on the ongoing U.A. Sports Festival, meticulously analyzing every single participant's Quirk.
"He certainly lacks precision and tactical thinking, but his sheer raw power is quite formidable, Moira," a man's voice remarked, his tone casual, almost bored. It was Reaper, his masked face impassive, as he watched the conclusion of Midoriya's match against Shoji. "His Quirk, 'One For All,' is truly a perplexing anomaly. It seems to actively break and damage his own body in exchange for generating overwhelming, destructive power, similar to Oxton's 'Acceleration,' but far more physically detrimental."
"Indeed, Gabriel, indeed. I have been meticulously analyzing this 'One For All' Quirk for quite some time now, but it continues to defy all my logical, scientific understanding," Moira replied, her voice tinged with a rare frustration, as she meticulously noted down complex equations and detailed observations. "The concept of a transferable Quirk, one that accumulates and strengthens with each new wielder, is simply unprecedented in all of scientific history. It's an enigma, a profound challenge to my research."
Moira took a moment to rub her temples, a weary gesture, as she turned her head to look at Reaper. "What did you deduce about Oxton's 'Acceleration,' Gabriel? Your prior encounter with her at the USJ gives you a unique perspective, a firsthand experience of its capabilities."
"Her movements were chaotic, unpredictable. At one point, she almost seemed to vanish entirely, only to reappear moments later, as if she had simply teleported," Reaper reported, his voice low, his masked gaze fixed on an unidentifiable point in the distance, replaying the memory. "But the most unsettling aspect of all was how she seemed to move beyond time itself, appearing in a different state of existence."
"How... peculiar," Moira murmured, a newfound intrigue in her voice, as she adjusted her glasses. "Are you implying that Lena Oxton's 'Acceleration' Quirk possesses inherent temporal abilities, allowing her to manipulate time itself?"
Reaper simply nodded, a silent affirmation.
Moira's eyes widened, a rare flicker of profound astonishment. "Unbelievable... a temporal Quirk. That would explain the energy fluctuations you reported, the chaotic distortions in the air surrounding her. It fits the pattern."
"And the little information you possessed about it, Moira, was just plain inaccurate," Reaper added, his voice flat, a hint of his usual disdain. "You're constantly underestimating that girl."
Moira scowled, a flash of irritation. "It's not my fault that your so-called 'analysis' was so utterly useless, Gabriel. You merely reported her speed and the immense destructive power she possessed, not the intricacies of her temporal manipulation! How was I supposed to deduce that from your superficial observations?"
"My apologies, Moira," Reaper retorted, his voice laced with heavy sarcasm, making it clear he felt no remorse. "I simply thought that a 'world-renowned scientist' could decipher such obvious clues. My mistake for expecting competence."
Moira merely glared at him, a silent, furious retort, before abruptly turning her attention back to the monitor.
"So, what's our next course of action, Moira? Have you successfully infiltrated I-Island and extracted the 'ARCANGEL' project data, as well as David Shield's 'secret project' information?" Reaper inquired, his voice shifting back to a professional tone.
"I have indeed, Gabriel. The data is currently being meticulously analyzed by my top scientists, as we speak," Moira replied, a triumphant gleam in her eyes, her previous irritation now completely forgotten. "It seems David Shield was working on a project called 'Hyperion.' Its objective was to create an artificial intelligence capable of predicting Quirks' future evolutions with a frightening degree of accuracy. However, this project was in its infancy, almost an abandoned prototype, and the data was minimal, fragmented."
"So, our journey was largely a waste of time, then," Reaper stated, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Another wild goose chase."
"On the contrary, Gabriel. The 'ARCANGEL' project data proved to be far more interesting, far more promising," Moira replied, a sinister smile spreading across her lips, her eyes gleaming with a malicious satisfaction. "It focuses on the manipulation of 'Entropy.' Not just to temporarily reverse its effects, but to truly understand its fundamental nature, to control its very essence. It's a groundbreaking concept, one that could revolutionize not only medicine but countless other fields. The possibilities are endless."
Reaper's masked gaze remained fixed on Moira, a silent question in his eyes.
"And it seems Lena Oxton's Quirk is intrinsically linked to Entropy itself. She is, quite literally, a living manifestation of its power," Moira continued, her voice now filled with a chilling excitement, a manic glee. "This changes everything, Gabriel. This changes everything."
A sinister, almost predatory, smile spread across Reaper's masked face. 'The girl... I will personally ensure she never escapes my grasp again. She is a valuable asset, a key to unimaginable power.'
"Is Sombra still enjoying her vacation, or is she now prepared to join us?" Reaper asked, his voice a low, guttural murmur, a subtle hint of his renewed determination.
Moira shrugged. "She is currently taking a well-deserved break, basking in the sun, somewhere warm and exotic. But I assure you, she will be ready when the time comes. After all, her Quirk is now fully awakened, and she is far more formidable than before."
"Good. This will be an interesting game, Moira. A very interesting game indeed." Reaper chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the cavernous lair, a prelude to the chaos to come.