"Flames and lightning?"
Reili Amamiya let out a strained laugh, her voice trembling. "That's… that's just cheating."
Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Her body was completely drained — the aftermath of overusing her Quirk.
She knew the truth.
Even after giving everything, she hadn't been able to make Lock flinch.
He had stopped her full-powered current like it was nothing.
If he hadn't shown mercy, she doubted any of her teammates would still be standing on the ring.
"We…"
Her voice broke softly. Reili bit her lip, lowering her head.
"…We surrender."
The other three didn't argue.
Their faces were pale, serious — as though the weight of defeat itself was pressing down on them.
Their Quirks were spent, their tricks exhausted. They had nothing left to fight with.
The silence lingered until a shadow fell over Reili.
She looked up to see a hand extended toward her.
Lock was standing there, smiling faintly.
"You all did great," he said sincerely.
"If you hadn't met us, you would've advanced easily."
Reili blinked, stunned for a second — then smiled bitterly.
The words weren't pity. They were honest and respectful.
In teamwork and coordination, her squad had been impeccable.
Each Quirk had complemented the others perfectly.
For a team thrown together just hours ago, they had fought like veterans.
In truth, their unity had surpassed his own group.
"I don't need your sympathy, little brother."
Reili brushed at the corner of her eye quickly, hiding the faint shimmer of tears, and shook his hand.
Then, with a faint smirk, she lifted her chin again — that sharp, cool confidence returning to her face.
"We didn't lose to you," she said.
"We lost to the power you carry."
She released his hand, turned on her heel, and walked off the stage.
Lock chuckled softly. He couldn't refute her even if he wanted to.
A gaze pricked at the back of his neck.
He turned and met the eyes of Kuji Ayato.
The man's expression was unreadable, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable.
It wasn't hatred — it was resolve.
Their eyes met across the arena, the unspoken echo of their earlier clash still lingering between them.
"I'll remember this," Kuji said finally. His voice was steady, sharp. "One day, I'll defeat you."
Lock didn't hesitate.
"I'll be waiting," he replied calmly. Then, with quiet certainty, "But I'll still win."
Kuji didn't answer. He only gave one last look, then turned and left the ring with his teammates.
The four of them walked slowly, shoulders heavy, but not broken.
Defeat had humbled them — but it had also changed something.
Lock watched their retreating backs for a moment, then turned toward his own team and raised his hand.
"We won."
One by one, they met his palm. Slap. Slap. Slap.
Mt. Lady grinned ear to ear. "We won!" she shouted, laughing so loud the next arena could probably hear her.
Their victory meant they had cleared the 80-to-40 round, advancing to the third stage of the Provisional Hero License Exam.
Half a step closer to becoming official Heroes.
The Hero License exams followed a familiar structure:
Combat — and rescue.
Which meant the third round would almost certainly be a rescue assessment.
Compared to the brutal duels so far, this would be simpler — less about power, more about composure and judgment under pressure.
If they applied everything they'd learned, they would pass.
Applause began to swell around them.
Not for Lock's team —
But for Reili Amamiya's group.
The defeated team had earned the respect of everyone in the room.
"That was incredible!"
"They actually went toe-to-toe with Lock's team!"
"Don't give up — we'll see you in the losers' bracket!"
Kuji looked up, startled by the cheering.
For a moment, disbelief crossed his face.
They had lost.
And yet, these people were applauding them.
For the first time, something inside him loosened — a long-held bitterness that began to fade.
He clenched his fist and smiled faintly.
Maybe… losing wasn't the end.
Meanwhile — Dogu Seaside Park.
The waves crashed against the shore, foaming white against the rocks.
Seagulls circled overhead, their cries mingling with the stench of salt, garbage, and… blood.
A lot of blood.
The beach was littered with wreckage.
Shattered patrol vehicles. Torn uniforms.
The remains of Pro Heroes and police officers—
their bodies mangled, ripped apart as if by serrated blades.
The cause was clear enough.
Something had bitten through them.
Something with teeth sharper than steel.
Among the carnage stood a towering figure — a monster with gray, metallic skin and cold, glassy eyes.
The Iron Shark.
The same escaped villain Lock had warned about earlier.
He was no ordinary criminal.
His Quirk, Iron Jaws, gave him shark-like teeth capable of tearing through anything — reinforced steel, concrete, even armored vehicles.
The police had known that much. They'd prepared for it.
And yet, the result was this massacre.
Because Iron Shark had more than just one Quirk.
"This isn't a Hero Agency…"
He sniffed the air, his grin widening.
"…Looks like that brat lied to me."
He spat, his voice a guttural growl. "Doesn't matter. Killing Heroes is what I came for anyway."
The massive shark-headed villain flexed his jaw, the metallic teeth glinting crimson in the setting sun.
"I've been injected with Quirk Booster Serum," he muttered, his voice trembling with manic delight.
"Now, not even All Might can stop me."
He threw back his head and laughed, a sound like metal grinding on metal.
Then, he turned and lumbered out of the park, footprints crunching through sand and glass.
"I'll hunt more Heroes," he hissed. "Until the sea runs red."
Not long after, he came across a terrified pedestrian.
"Where are the Heroes?" he snarled, grabbing the man by the collar.
The civilian stammered, trembling, his mind blank with fear.
Then, as if remembering something, he blurted out the truth.
"Th–The Hero license exam! They're all… they're all at Dogu Arena!"
Iron Shark's eyes gleamed.
He dropped the man without another word and turned toward the city.
The ground shook with every step as he grinned widely, the metal jaws gleaming in the sun.
Toward the arena —
Toward Lock.
Toward his next hunt.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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