"Then, I'll start with my introduction."
Lock smiled at the four people approaching him. "Lock, fifteen years old, second-year middle school student. My Quirk is Communication—I can connect and interact with everything in the world."
The second round was a team battle, so every member needed to know one another's Quirks to plan tactics and work together effectively.
Teamwork wasn't just a formality—it was the foundation of being a Pro Hero.
In real missions, multiple agencies often collaborated.
And during emergencies, nearby Heroes rushed to assist regardless of affiliation.
Whether in combat or rescue operations, charging in alone wasn't bravery—it was arrogance.
Working together meant knowing your teammates' strengths and quirks—literally.
That must have been the Hero Public Safety Commission's intent when designing this second-round test.
Still, Lock couldn't help but think…
After forcing everyone to brutalize each other in the first round, now making them shake hands and cooperate?
The test designers definitely had a twisted sense of humor.
"'Communication,' huh? But isn't your Quirk related to dragon transformation?" Mt. Lady asked curiously, stepping forward. "Anyway—my Hero name's Mt. Lady. My Quirk is Gigantification. I can grow several times my normal size."
Lock tilted his head slightly. "Including the weight?"
Mt. Lady's cheeks puffed out instantly, like a cat with bristled fur. "That's taboo!"
Her irritation only made the group laugh. Dressed in her signature skintight navy and beige bodysuit, with the dark-blue mask framing her eyes, she exuded her usual mix of charm and intimidation.
Lock raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright—I was wrong."
"That's better." Mt. Lady huffed once more, but her lips softened into a smile. "A word of advice—never say that to a woman again."
The brief teasing broke the tension in the air.
Lock's mental age far exceeded his body's. He knew exactly why he'd done that.
When the four of them had approached, their expressions carried a hint of fear—hesitation.
And Lock didn't want that.
They were a team now. Fear was the enemy of cooperation.
So, he joked to ease the mood.
"You all know about Quirk genetic factors, right?" Lock continued, raising both hands. "You could say my ability allows me to communicate with those factors—and awaken certain dragon-related powers."
With a snap of his fingers, he demonstrated.
A swirl of water danced around his left hand, while sparks of lightning crackled across his right.
"Whoa!"
Mt. Lady and Sirius gasped, eyes wide.
Just the sight of it—the twin magic circles glowing faintly around his palms—was breathtaking.
"My Hero name's Death Arms," said the burly man with black-and-yellow caution stripes across his body. He flexed his biceps, the muscle fibers rippling beneath his battle suit. "My Quirk's Enhanced Strength. Basically, it gives me raw power far beyond normal humans."
Reliable and straightforward. The kind of strength you could trust.
Still, compared to some of his peers, pure power Quirks like his were often seen as plain.
Even so, Mt. Lady would later rise to No. 23 in the Hero Rankings, while Kamui Woods, their friend beside her, would climb all the way to No. 7.
"My Hero name is Kamui Woods," said the tall man with a bark-like mask. "My Quirk is Arbor, allowing me to transform parts of my body into wood. I specialize in restraint and control."
His vine-like extensions and wooden armor gave him a natural battlefield advantage—except against one element.
Flames.
So when he glanced nervously at Lock, the meaning was obvious.
Lock only smiled faintly. That was an unavoidable elemental mismatch, nothing more.
Then the last member stepped forward, cheerful and composed.
"My Hero's name is Sirius. My Quirk enhances my hearing—I can detect high-frequency sounds far beyond human range."
She was dressed in a crisp sailor-style uniform with a short blue jacket. Her short, ocean-colored hair shimmered softly under the lights, and on each side of her head, sleek fin-shaped devices extended like delicate wings.
Her Quirk wasn't built for combat, but in rescue missions—especially at sea—it was invaluable. She could locate victims trapped under rubble or hear cries for help drowned by waves.
"Those ears are fascinating," Lock said, stepping closer curiously. Before he thought about it, he reached out and gently pinched one.
"Ah! They're not ears—they're equipment!" Sirius yelped, turning away quickly, her cheeks flushed. "They boost my Quirk's reception!"
"Sorry," Lock laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. "I thought they were like My Friend Jiro's earphone jacks."
Sirius pouted slightly, while the other three exchanged very knowing looks.
Lock coughed and changed the subject fast. "Right—now that introductions are done, let's go over our team strategy."
Just then, several staff members entered the room, each holding stacks of papers.
"These are the rules for the second round of the team competition," one said, handing copies to every group.
The staffer stopped directly in front of Lock, meeting his eyes for a brief second—clearly recognizing him—before handing over the sheet personally.
Lock unfolded it immediately, scanning the details while signaling his teammates to gather around.
Good Eyes had mentioned two main categories:
Individual battles and team battles.
But in total, there were three match types—with a best-of-three victory system.
The first was the five-on-five team battle, straightforward enough.
The second, a one-on-one sequence battle, where each of the five members fought in order until one team won three out of five.
And finally—
A captain's duel.
Each team could nominate a single representative for a decisive solo match.
Whoever won that bout earned an automatic victory in one of the smaller games.
Lock grinned. "So… it's a three-part test, two wins to advance."
He looked at the four standing beside him—each unique, each strong in their own way.
"The real battle starts here."
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