"I'm here again~~~!"
In the afternoon, it was time for the Hero Basic Course once more.
All Might appeared at the entrance of the training ground in his usual energetic trot, arms swinging dramatically as he arrived.
"I believe Mr. Aizawa has already informed you!"
All Might announced cheerfully.
"This afternoon, we'll be conducting a special test!"
"Isn't it another combat match?"
Several students asked at once.
"Well, there is competition involved," All Might replied with a grin, raising one finger,
"but first, we'll be doing a strength test!"
"If the rescue game tested your mobility," he continued,
"then today's test will focus purely on raw power!"
"Finally! Something I'm good at!!"
Kirishima Eijiro clenched his fists excitedly.
"I was so frustrated last time—I'm definitely going to surprise everyone today!!"
Hearing that, some students showed excitement… while others looked less confident.
"This… really isn't my specialty,"
Uraraka muttered quietly.
Her fighting style relied far more on technique and timing—using her Quirk to neutralize opponents through weightlessness before quickly restraining them. Pure destructive power was undeniably her weakest area.
"Heroes don't just help civilians,"
All Might said seriously as he led everyone deeper into the training area.
"They also have to fight criminals directly. In those moments, destructive power becomes extremely important!"
He extended his palm toward the open space ahead.
Standing there, smiling and waving casually, was Cementoss.
"Today's opponent is Cementoss!"
All Might announced.
"He will continuously generate cement walls and pillars. The more you destroy within the time limit, the higher your score!"
"Today," All Might said with a sharp glint in his eyes,
"release all the pressure you've been carrying. Let it out—completely!"
Though being a Hero came with prestige and privilege, it also carried immense psychological stress.
If that pressure wasn't released properly, even Heroes could break.
The same applied to students.
After USJ, internships, and real encounters with villains, many of them had already seen society's darker side. These lessons weren't random—they existed for a reason.
"Well then—any questions?" All Might asked.
"Can we use equipment?"
Yaoyorozu raised her hand politely.
"Of course!" All Might replied immediately.
"As long as it's created through your Quirk, anything is allowed!"
"Each person has 30 seconds," he continued.
"Let's begin!"
He glanced at the roster.
"First up—Shoto Todoroki!"
Hearing his name, Todoroki stepped forward calmly and took his position opposite Cementoss.
"Be careful," Cementoss reminded him kindly, placing both hands on the ground.
The concrete beneath them stirred as if alive.
Like rolling waves, massive cement walls surged upward, stacking layer upon layer.
"…Destructive power,"
Todoroki murmured, clenching his fist.
Pure ice or flame only changed temperature—lowering or raising it—but didn't always translate into impact.
Ice blocks could shatter, but cement was tougher than expected.
Flames, on the other hand, were something he still used in a very basic way—relying solely on heat.
But after witnessing Endeavor's battles…
After seeing the new techniques Masata had developed…
Todoroki decided to try something different.
"Compression… concentration…"
Flames rose from his left hand—not spreading into a blaze, but instead gathering tightly, forced into a dense sphere.
Sweat dripped down his forehead.
"This is the limit…"
The fireball in his hand had grown to the size of a basketball.
"…Fire Fist."
It was the first time Todoroki had ever named one of his techniques.
In the past, he relied heavily on ice—simple, effective, but limited.
This was different.
The compressed fireball launched forward with a heavy punch—
BOOM!!!
The fireball detonated on impact, erupting violently and blowing apart a massive section of the cement wall.
Chunks of concrete scattered across the ground.
Todoroki froze.
He had only intended to increase the temperature—but the compression had caused an explosive reaction far beyond expectations.
"Hey, Bakugo!"
Kirishima elbowed him playfully.
"Your moves are starting to overlap!"
Bakugo's expression darkened instantly.
He had just been "copied" by Midoriya a few days ago—and now Todoroki too?
His pride took another direct hit.
"Shut up!"
Bakugo snapped, stepping forward aggressively.
"That kind of blast doesn't even come close to mine! I'll show you what a real explosion looks like!!"
"I want the next turn!" he barked at All Might.
All Might smiled.
"Very well."
Bakugo took the field immediately.
As he passed Todoroki, he leaned in slightly and muttered, voice low and sharp—
"Watch carefully."
Cementoss remained calm, smiling gently as ever.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Tch—start already!"
Bakugo slapped his palms together, ripping off his combat gauntlets and tossing them aside.
He didn't even plan to use support gear.
Cementoss touched the ground once more.
Concrete walls surged forward again.
Bakugo didn't back away.
"HAH!"
With explosive force under his feet, he charged straight into the advancing walls.
"Zero Distance—BIG BLAST!!!"
Bakugo slammed his palms forward at point-blank range.
A massive mushroom cloud erupted, swallowing the field in smoke and debris.
When the dust finally settled—
Only one shattered section remained standing.
Everything else had been obliterated into rubble.
"That's stronger than he was during the Sports Festival,"
Masata said calmly, watching Bakugo's glare swing toward him.
"But don't think that scares me," Masata added with a faint grin.
"If I want to improve… I'll just surpass you."
Bakugo's teeth clenched.