"All Might once said," Muliang began solemnly, "that a Hero's greatest duty is not to defeat villains—but to save others."
His words echoed across the training grounds.
"The heroes of today," he continued, "must be capable in everything that benefits the people—not only rescue, but also firefighting, evacuation, medical aid, and coordination with the police and emergency services before they arrive."
It wasn't just talk.
Among all the components of the Hero License Examination, rescue drills were considered the most crucial step in determining who could truly be called a professional Hero.
Muliang adjusted his microphone and cleared his throat.
"Each rescued civilian—each HUC—is worth one point.
If the rescue method is deemed qualified, another point is awarded.
If excellent, two points.
If unqualified, one point will be deducted.
At the end of one hour, a total score of sixty or higher is required to pass."
The rules were simple—but the reality was not.
Around the field, dozens of Hero candidates whispered hurriedly among their teams, strategizing how to score the most points.
At best, a single HUC rescue could net them three points.
That meant twenty successful rescues in one hour—a tall order, even for experienced Pros.
The disaster simulation was massive, with collapsed buildings, smoke, and blocked roads. Each rescue would take time and teamwork.
Fortunately, Lock's team of five had excellent coordination—and their Quirks were naturally suited for rescue.
"Three… two… one—begin!"
At Muliang's command, the third round of the Hero License Exam officially began.
The moment the siren sounded, all candidates sprinted toward the simulated disaster zone.
Lock's group headed straight for a partially collapsed residential block. Rubble and smoke choked the streets, and faint cries echoed from above.
"Third floor, left wing!" Sirius called out, pressing a hand to her ear. "I can hear two heartbeats—one weak, one panicked!"
Her keen hearing made her the team's radar. In a rescue mission, she was invaluable—able to pinpoint trapped civilians long before anyone else could locate them.
"Wing!"
Lock conjured a magic circle and spread his black draconic wings, ascending toward the shattered building.
There was no usable stairway; flight was the only way up.
He slipped through a broken window and landed in what remained of a bedroom.
Inside, two HUC actors—a mother and her small child—were waiting.
The "child" lay limp on the floor, red syrup smeared across his forehead. The "mother" saw Lock enter and cried out in perfect panic:
"Help! My son's hurt!"
"Don't worry, ma'am," Lock said quickly, moving to her side. "I'll stop the bleeding first!"
He tore a strip from the bedsheet, folding it tightly to form a makeshift bandage. His movements were swift, confident, and precise.
Thanks, Master Kōng Gui, he thought, remembering the old rescue instructor who'd trained him using simulated victims.
It was because of that training that he could stay calm now.
He secured the bandage neatly, tying it off. "Can you walk, ma'am?"
"Yes," the mother HUC replied, watching him work. She nodded approvingly—his technique was textbook perfect. As long as the evacuation went smoothly, she'd rate him "excellent."
"Good. Kamui Woods!" Lock called out through the window.
Outside, Kamui had already extended his wooden branches, weaving them into a sturdy cradle-like shape.
"Lowering now!"
Lock helped the mother sit inside first, then gently placed the child in her arms.
Kamui's vines descended carefully to the ground, where Death Arms caught and carried them to safety.
Lock followed afterward, landing lightly beside them.
The rescue was flawless. Both HUCs gave "excellent" ratings—six points earned in one go.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the ruins, Mt. Lady and Death Arms were working together.
"There's movement under these rocks," Sirius relayed, her ears twitching as she listened. "One person—still breathing."
Death Arms nodded. "Got it."
He planted his feet and began clearing debris with effortless strength, rock by rock.
Sirius' voice came again, tense. "The nearby high-rise is unstable—it's shaking! It might collapse any second!"
"I'll hold it!" Mt. Lady declared, activating her Quirk.
Her body expanded in an instant, towering over the scene like a living fortress.
She pressed both hands against the tilting structure, bracing it with sheer physical strength while Death Arms pulled the trapped HUC free.
Once the victim was safe, Mt. Lady shifted the loosened debris to reinforce the rescue area before shrinking back down.
That section of the zone was officially cleared. No further cries could be heard.
Their coordination was seamless—Lock and Kamui on one side, Mt. Lady and Death Arms on the other, with Sirius guiding them like a radar from above.
Within thirty minutes, Lock's team had already accumulated sixty points—the passing threshold.
It was textbook-perfect hero work.
Then—
BOOM!
An explosion thundered through the center of the arena.
The shockwave sent dust and debris flying.
Muliang's voice echoed faintly over the comms: "In a real disaster, Heroes may also need to combat villains who interfere with rescue operations!"
Through the smoke, a tall figure emerged.
A massive orca-headed man in a black wetsuit—Gang Orca, Japan's current No. 10 Pro Hero.
Today, however, he was not here as a hero.
As part of the exercise, Gang Orca was playing the role of a villain—the one who caused the disaster and was now actively sabotaging the rescue.
He led a group of assistants dressed as thugs, their task to attack and harass the examinees, simulating chaos.
The candidates quickly regrouped, forming defensive lines while shielding the HUC actors.
Some teams broke off to stall Gang Orca's group while others continued rescue work.
It was a realistic, evolving simulation—exactly what the Hero Commission intended.
But then, before anyone could react, a second explosion ripped through the city.
BOOM!
"What now?! Another villain?!" someone shouted.
"This year's exam is insane!" another cried. "How many fake villains did they prepare?!"
But the confusion turned to horror when they saw the source of the smoke.
Because what stepped out of it wasn't part of the exam.
A massive humanoid shark, skin plated with metallic scales, and eyes glinting with savage hunger.
Everyone froze.
Muliang.
The Hero Public Safety staff.
Even Gang Orca himself.
They all stared at the creature in disbelief.
Because none of them had planned for this.
The shark wasn't one of the actors.
And Lock—whose eyes went cold—knew exactly who it was.
The Iron Shark.
The same escaped villain he'd encountered that morning.
And now, in the middle of the Hero License rescue exam…
A real villain had entered the stage.
An accident had happened—But this was no simulation anymore.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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