Gang Orca crossed his thick arms in front of his body, bracing for impact—
But Iron Shark was already upon him.
BOOM!
A single punch sent a bone-rattling shockwave through the air.
The sound was heavy and dull, the kind that struck through flesh and bone alike.
Gang Orca's arms buckled visibly under the blow. His face twisted in agony.
Then came another thunderous crack—
A sonic boom split the air like a cannon blast.
Before anyone could process what happened, the No.10 Pro Hero's body was hurled backward like a meteor, crashing through several collapsed walls before vanishing into the rubble.
Silence followed.
The entire venue froze as if the world itself had stopped breathing.
A Pro Hero—defeated in a single strike.
"Is Gang Orca… that weak?" someone whispered, voice trembling.
But deep down, they all knew the truth.
No, Gang Orca wasn't weak.
Iron Shark was too strong.
His power, speed, and defense—everything about him radiated overwhelming force.
At that moment, even without measuring instruments, every Hero there could feel it in their bones.
His physique was comparable to All Might's in his prime.
"This is bad…!"
Muliang gritted his teeth and snatched up the microphone again.
"Attention all examinees! The villain's power level is beyond estimation—everyone is to evacuate immediately! Repeat: evacuate! Do not engage!"
Numbers no longer mattered. Against a monster like that, an army of examinees would be slaughtered.
Even Gang Orca's ultrasonic attack couldn't pierce Iron Shark's steel skin.
If a Pro Hero's offense failed, what chance did a group of students have?
All that mattered now was minimizing casualties.
Even if they couldn't defeat him, maybe they could at least survive.
But just as the crowd began to scatter, a lone figure stepped forward.
Lock.
He planted himself between Iron Shark and the cowering candidates.
The villain's crimson eyes narrowed. "You…"
A low growl rumbled from his throat. "So it's you, brat. The one who lied to me. You led me to the wrong place, didn't you?"
His teeth ground together, the steel plates across his face creaking. "And now you dare to stand before me again? Perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down."
Lock didn't respond.
A pulse of magic erupted beneath his feet as a faint, fiery aura gathered around him.
"Wing," he murmured.
Black scales shimmered across his arms as the Dragon Wing enchantment activated.
Iron Shark tilted his head, amused. "Oh? So you've got guts, at least. I'll admit, that's rare in a kid."
He cracked his knuckles, grinning wide enough to reveal his serrated steel fangs.
"If you cry and beg, maybe I'll make it quick."
Lock's eyes blazed. "You talk too much."
He kicked off the ground, leaving a shockwave behind.
Wind coiled around his feet like a vortex as his figure blurred—a streak of fire and motion.
Iron Shark's eyes widened. "Tch—fast!"
Despite his enhanced strength, his reactions hadn't increased in equal measure.
For the first time, the predator couldn't track his prey.
A thunderous crash rang out from the flank.
"Gigantification!" Mt. Lady roared as her body expanded.
Towering over twenty meters tall, she leapt high and brought down a colossal foot toward Iron Shark.
BOOM!
Her heel struck like a meteor.
The entire ground shuddered from the impact.
But Iron Shark didn't even flinch. He raised his arms overhead and caught the strike effortlessly.
"What—?!" Mt. Lady gasped. The next instant, Iron Shark pushed back—hard.
She stumbled, losing balance, and her enormous frame toppled backward, smashing through nearby buildings with an earth-splitting crash.
"Enough! Buy me time!" Lock shouted.
He had already reached the villain's chest. Flames roared around his forearms like living serpents.
"The Claw of the Fire Dragon!"
He slashed with both hands, his magic slicing through the air.
The flaming claws struck Iron Shark dead center, tearing through his hardened chest plates.
Sparks and molten blood flew. Two red lines etched themselves across the villain's torso.
Iron Shark staggered, eyes wide in disbelief.
He had slaughtered Pro Heroes like insects—
And yet, this boy had drawn his blood.
But his surprise twisted quickly into rage.
"I'll crush you!" he snarled, swinging his massive arm down like a hammer.
Lock's instincts flared. He spread his wings and darted backward, escaping by mere inches as the punch cratered the ground where he'd stood.
"Kamui, now!"
From behind, wooden tendrils shot forward in a dense web, wrapping around Iron Shark's limbs.
Kamui Woods gritted his teeth, pulling tight until the branches creaked under the strain.
"Binding Nest!"
"Now!"
Death Arms charged in, muscles bulging, a fierce grin cutting across his face. "Good work! My turn!"
He swung his fist with all his might, driving it straight into Iron Shark's face.
The blow landed solidly, the sound like an explosion.
For a moment, it almost looked like it worked.
But Iron Shark didn't move.
His body didn't even sway.
Then—crack!
The wooden bindings snapped apart like paper.
Iron Shark straightened slowly, completely unhurt.
The only one left trembling was Death Arms, whose knuckles throbbed in agony.
His most powerful punch had done nothing.
For someone who lived by brute force, that truth was shattering.
"Pathetic," Iron Shark muttered. He reared his fist back to counter.
"Watch out!"
Lock dove forward, his wings flaring, catching Death Arms by the shoulders and hauling him out of the way.
The punch whooshed past, shattering the concrete where they'd stood.
"Thanks… Lock," Death Arms breathed heavily, his face pale.
Lock set him down, never taking his eyes off the villain. "Don't thank me yet. He's not done."
Iron Shark's grin widened. "You're all gnats buzzing around my ears. But I'll give you credit—you're entertaining."
He spread his arms, blood still trickling from the faint wounds on his chest.
"Go on, fight back. It won't change anything."
Lock straightened, his voice low. "You're right about one thing."
He clenched his fists, magic flaring golden beneath his skin.
"You are noisy."
The air began to hum—
a low, resonant vibration like the roar of a distant forge.
Brilliant light burst from Lock's body, rippling outward in waves of flame and molten gold.
"Requip—Yandi's Armor!"
The aura solidified into a set of burning crimson plate armor, scales forged from dragonfire, radiating heat and divine wrath.
Lock's eyes gleamed beneath the glowing visor.
"Let's see if steel can burn."
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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