Driving through the crowded streets of Japan on a motorcycle is exhilarating—especially when you can speed up your perception to such extremes that everything else moves in slow motion. Cutting through traffic at speeds a normal person wouldn't dare attempt out of sheer fear for their life wasn't a problem for me. So, naturally, it didn't take long to arrive at U.A. High.
The engine of my bike purred to a halt just outside the towering gates of U.A. High School.The moment I removed my helmet, I felt it—the weight of hundreds of eyes. Students and parents, all turning to look. Some were just curious. Others, intimidated. I didn't blame them. Standing at 6'2" with crimson eyes and a presence honed through years of discipline, I stood out.The campus itself was everything I expected from Japan's premier hero institution: imposing gates framed by sleek steel and reinforced glass; a sprawling courtyard leading to towering buildings that radiated strength and prestige. It was a fortress of learning, and today, it would become an arena.I slid the helmet onto my bike's mount and locked it in place. My reflection caught in the black sheen of the tank—unruly black hair, sharp eyes, and the faint outline of the tattoo on my chest beneath the layers of black fabric. A reminder of where I came from… and what I had chosen to become.
Students bustled around me in clusters—some chatting nervously, others psyching themselves up like they were about to walk into battle. I spotted a few recognizable faces. Of course, none of them would recognize me. They shouldn't. I only knew them because I had read the manga.As I walked toward the towering gates of U.A. High, a particular scene caught my attention.A boy with a head full of unmistakable green hair was heading for the entrance as well. Just like me, he looked tense. No, scratch that—he looked like his heart was trying to claw its way out of his chest. I could practically hear the panic in his breathing. Still, I kept my distance, choosing to observe rather than interfere. I already knew what was about to happen.
And sure enough—it happened.He stumbled over his own feet, arms flailing, face tilted dangerously toward the pavement in an inevitable, humiliating crash.But just before disaster struck, a girl behind him reached out and gently tapped him with her fingertips. Her Quirk activated instantly. His body floated slightly, enough to stop his fall in midair.She smiled warmly and said, "Whoa, sorry for using my Quirk without asking. But it looked like you were going to fall!"It was genuine. Kind.And judging by the look on his face, you'd think she'd just proposed to him. If I didn't know any better, I'd say there was actual steam rising off his head. His whole body looked like it short-circuited.
I couldn't help but smirk to myself. So, this is how it all begins, huh?
The inside of U.A. High was buzzing with energy. The hall was massive, like an arena made to test the nerves of the next generation of heroes. Students filed in, some wide-eyed, others radiating raw confidence. I kept my expression neutral, walking calmly to my assigned seat near the middle of the auditorium.I glanced around casually, eyes locking for a second on the green-haired boy from earlier—Midoriya. He was nervously scanning the crowd, probably wondering if he belonged here. He did, even if he didn't know it yet.
Then—"YEEEEEAHHH! WHAT'S UP, FUTURE HEROES?!" boomed a voice loud enough to make the walls vibrate.Enter: Present Mic.
The pro hero practically launched himself onto the stage, sliding into position like this was a rock concert and he was the headliner. His blond hair and yellow shades gleamed under the lights, his long coat trailing dramatically behind him as he struck a pose."Welcome to the U.A. High Entrance Exam! I'm your guide today—Present Mic, here to drop all the info you need!" he shouted, striking another exaggerated pose.
He paused for dramatic effect before launching into the breakdown."Alright! So listen up, listeners! Today, you'll be tackling a practical exam! That means—BOOM—no written test today, just straight action!"The crowd stirred with excitement and anxiety."You'll each be assigned to a random replica city, where you'll have ten minutes to earn points by defeating faux villains—robots! Big ones, small ones, fast ones—you name it!" he continued, hyped like a sportscaster on game day. "And remember, each robot is worth a different number of points based on its difficulty. Use your Quirks, show your guts, and aim high!"
He was about to continue when someone stood up from the front row with military precision."Excuse me!" the boy shouted, pushing up his glasses in a sharp motion. He was tall, lean, and spoke with practiced clarity."I am Tenya Iida of the Somei Private Academy, and I must point out an error! The information pamphlet distributed to us stated there would be three types of faux villains. Yet, Present Mic has just mentioned four!"A few students murmured, turning to look. Iida looked around like he expected applause for catching the "mistake."
Present Mic blinked once… then just laughed."Oh-ho! Good ear, my man!" he said, pointing a finger like a pistol. "You're absolutely right to notice that extra detail! That's because there is a fourth robot—but it's what we call a 'zero-pointer'! Totally useless! Just big, slow, and meant to be avoided, ya dig?"Iida looked stunned for a beat before recovering and sitting back down rigidly, clearly taking mental notes.I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. Man's about to have an aneurysm over fine print.Still, I appreciated his sense of order… even if the world didn't always play by the rules.
Present Mic wrapped up."Get changed, stay sharp, and remember—go PLUS ULTRA!"The auditorium erupted in cheers, though mine was internal. I rose from my seat, more than ready. This was it—the starting line. My second life's true beginning.Time to see what I could do.
The bus hummed steadily along the winding road. Around me, a handful of other examinees sat scattered throughout the seats, each lost in their own world of nervous anticipation. I kept to myself, eyes scanning the group, searching for anything familiar.But there was nothing.No recognizable faces from the original Class 1-A. No names I had read in the manga. Just strangers—and that's exactly what I hoped for since it would be annoying if I had to hold back so I at least wouldn't derail what I knew too much.Around five minutes later, we arrived at Examination Site F, which was actually quite long considering we were still on campus.Anyway, here I stood now with around 100–200 other examinees, and then suddenly the gate leading to Examination Area F creaked open slowly—a heavy metallic barrier giving way to reveal the vast expanse beyond.A murmur rippled through the crowd of examinees gathered just inside—confusion and hesitation mingling in their uncertain faces.Some glanced around, waiting for a clear signal, as if permission to move had to be granted.Present Mic's voice cut through the quiet, sharp and commanding."Get moving! There are no countdowns in real battles. Run, run, run, listeners! You're wasting airtime here."Like a dam breaking, the tension snapped. The examinees surged forward, a chaotic wave of power and will unleashed all at once. Quirks flared, sparks flew, and energy crackled through the air as each contender pushed themselves to the limit—rushing headlong into the unknown.
And there I stood, motionless amid the frenzy, watching the storm of ambition and raw talent crash around me. The noise dimmed into a distant hum as I breathed in deeply, filling my lungs with the cool, electric air.Then, slowly, I exhaled.The air around me began to shimmer, as if the heat itself bent and twisted in response—a wavering haze that blurred the edges of reality. My voice barely more than a whisper, I said the word that held the weight of my power:"Aetherion."
A light like the sun bursting through a storm exploded from my core, blinding in its intensity. For a heartbeat, everything was white brilliance.When it faded, there I was, encased in armor—my armor—gleaming white-silver with intricate gold filigree catching the light and turning it into a halo of quiet fury.
I didn't linger.The moment passed, and I was gone.
In my place, the ground shattered, spiderweb cracks radiating outward like the impact of a meteor. A sonic boom roared, shattering windows nearby, sending shards of glass raining down in glittering arcs.That was only the beginning.
My body moved with precision and force, every motion purposeful. The first step of many in a battle that would change everything.And there was no stopping me.
Shortly after my explosive entrance, two of the other examinees caught only a blur—a streak of white that whipped past them like a furious hurricane, carrying me forward with relentless force. Machines in their immediate vicinity didn't stand a chance; they disintegrated into dust and debris, obliterated by the sheer power of my movement.
But to me, everything slowed to a crawl.Time stretched out, every moment drawn thin like a fragile thread. The whir of servos, the buzz of circuits, the faint hum of energy—all crystal clear. Each robot was a puzzle to be solved with precision and efficiency.I moved with calculated grace, my fists landing with brutal accuracy. Each strike was a symphony of controlled strength, crushing metal and mechanics in a single, perfectly timed punch.The world around me was a detailed tapestry of slow-motion destruction.
When I reached a wide square, I paused briefly. Around ten robots swiveled their heads, their sensors locking onto me with cold mechanical focus. Several of them opened fire, bullets tearing through the air like deadly rain.The projectiles hit their mark, splattering against me—but not on flesh. The bullets were coated with some kind of fast-hardening foam, designed to trap targets and neutralize movement. Within seconds, I was encased in a rigid shell, the foam hardening and sealing me like a tomb.A trap for the slow or the weak.
I smiled beneath the armor.Without hesitation, I activated my heat vision.A piercing beam of searing energy erupted from my eyes, slicing through the foam with effortless precision. The melting material dripped away as if it were nothing but candle wax under a flame.But I didn't stop there.The heat lanced out beyond the foam, cutting through every robot in range. Metal screamed and warped, circuits fried, and servos seized as my vision burned through them like a hot knife through butter.
With a simple, fluid flex of my arm, I unleashed a powerful shockwave.The force shattered the remnants of the foam, scattering chunks like shattered glass. It blasted through the nearest machines, toppling and disabling them with ease, clearing a path for me to advance.
Every move was deliberate, efficient—nothing wasted, everything focused on the end goal.The battlefield was mine.
My rampage went on for several minutes—long enough that I was pretty sure I'd already shattered the previous record for most robots dismantled in the exam. The air buzzed with static and tension, the battlefield littered with twisted metal and sparks.Then, without warning, the ground beneath us began to rumble. A slow, deep tremor that grew steadily into a full-on quake.A grin spread across my face. I knew exactly what was coming.
The big guy. The Zero Pointer.
I released the last fragments of metal from my latest victim and slid into a crouch. With a burst of power, I launched myself skyward, rising hundreds of feet above the arena.From this vantage point, I watched as the giant robot emerged from the earth—towering, imposing, and unmistakably the final challenge.Below me, the other students scattered in all directions, desperate to avoid the robot's wrath.
I scanned the area surrounding the behemoth carefully, checking for anyone left behind—students or faculty disguised as helpless civilians. The space was empty. No distractions, no unexpected threats.Still hovering, I focused inward. The solar energy I'd absorbed coursed through my veins, igniting every cell with fierce heat and light.I activated the power I had named Solar Overdrive.
It was like every cell in my body leapt into an excited state—pushed beyond normal limits—multiplying my strength and speed to staggering levels.My armor flared brilliantly, radiating pure, blinding light.Even my hair lost its color, transforming into strands of shimmering energy—pure light flowing in waves.
Far above the arena, I clenched my fist and launched myself downward—an unstoppable comet blazing a trail through the air.My fist slammed straight into the Zero Pointer's chest, tearing through metal and armor like they were nothing.The impact dug deep into the earth beneath, releasing a shockwave of raw solar energy that shattered stone and steel alike.
When the dust finally settled, I stood alone at the center of the crater I had created—unharmed, untouched, and smiling.One hand was raised triumphantly above my head, fingers curled into a fist. The other hung loosely at my side, trembling faintly from the rush and exaustion of entering that state. Cracks spiderwebbed beneath my feet, steam rising in wisps from the scorched earth.Around me, the other examinees cautiously returned, stopping at the rim of the crater. Their faces were a mix of awe and disbelief—some wide-eyed, others pale, all of them silent. No one dared to speak. A few exchanged nervous glances, as if unsure whether they should applaud... or run.
I could feel it: the shift in atmosphere. In that moment, something had changed.They no longer saw me as just another competitor.They saw me as something else entirely.