Mock Battel Exam!

'Oh, man, it's been ages since I felt this nervous about anything,' Izuku thought, staring at his reflection in the mirror, a towel loosely draped around his waist. 'Honestly, this feels just like the day of U.A.'s entrance exam.' A soft chuckle escaped him as memories surfaced. 'I was so nervous back then—scared, even. I'd only gotten One for All a few hours before and had no idea how I'd manage to pass if it didn't come through for me.'

'But you did pass,' Nana chimed in, her voice warm and encouraging, 'and you didn't just pass—you saved someone's life. That's as heroic as it gets.'

Izuku smiled faintly, shaking his head. 'I don't know, Nana. Most of the time, I was running around like a headless chicken, panicking about what to do next. And then, I completely wrecked myself at the end. I doubt anyone watching thought that was 'heroic,' especially on the teachers' screens in the monitor room.'

'Oh, I wouldn't be so sure,' Nana teased lightly. 'Ochako certainly seemed to think otherwise, didn't she?' she said, but immediately regretted it when she sensed Izuku's mood shift and his expression darkened, as well as the faint smile vanishing from his face.

'Well, I guess we'll never know, huh?' he replied, his tone tinged with bitterness.

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—'

'It's fine,' he cut in, forcing a sad smile. 'Really. It's been sixteen years... I've accepted my reality and moved on.' The smile stayed on his face, but Nana wasn't fooled. She could feel the lie beneath his words, the ache he refused to acknowledge, however, she wasn't cruel enough to call him out on it.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Izuku silently thanked whatever luck he still had when Opera called out, "Izuku-sama, your new uniform is here." Turning, Izuku saw Opera standing in the doorway, holding an elegant, branded bag in their hands.

"Thanks, Opera. Just leave it on the bed," Izuku said with a small nod.

Opera complied, setting the bag down carefully. Then, as they straightened, they regarded Izuku thoughtfully. "Nervous?" they asked.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "Yeah, a little. I'm confident in my abilities, but I still don't know what to expect from my opponent. That's what's throwing me off."

"In that case, I have some advice for you," Opera said.

"Advice?" Izuku tilted his head.

"Well, more like a hidden trick," Opera explained. "In the rank-obsessed society of the Netherworld, showing fear to your opponent is as good as admitting defeat. That's why, when you feel fear, you need to step out, run towards that fear, and turn that into excitement."

'Opera-san, that is terrible advice for someone like Izuku,' Nana said dryly, though she knew Opera couldn't hear her. 'This boy already runs headlong into danger without thinking twice!'

Izuku ignored Nana's comment and thanked Opera, who left shortly afterward to prepare breakfast.

'Get ready, Izuku,' Nana said softly as his gaze fell back on the bag on the bed. 'Today's going to be a long one.'

He sighed, reaching for the bag. 'Yeah... I know,' he thought, his resolve steeling itself despite the nervous flutter in his stomach.

******

Babyls Staff Room

Half an hour before the students began flooding into the school, Naberius Kalego sat in the staff room, meticulously reviewing documents and savoring the rare, precious silence his day allowed. However, this brief moment of peace was abruptly shattered by a voice that grated on his very soul.

"Kalego-sensei!" Bars Robin's boisterous call echoed as he strode into the room with his usual boundless, and to Kalego, thoroughly unwelcome, energy.

Robin, the new trainee teacher, was loud, brash, and utterly lacking in tact—the perfect trifecta of traits Kalego despised most in a person. Even casual conversation with him felt like torture which Kalego wasn't inclined to endure.

With a resigned sigh, Kalego glanced up from his documents, his tone sharp and clipped. "What do you want?"

"Today's the Mock Battles Exam, right?" Robin asked, leaning casually on Kalego's desk, as Kalego's eye twitched in irritation.

"Yes," Kalego grunted. "What about it?"

"I was just thinking—it's kind of unfair, isn't it? First-year students facing off against second-years when they haven't even had their first proper class yet," Robin said and Kalego opened his mouth to respond, but someone else beat him to it.

"Robin-sensei, there are two reasons we conduct this test so early in the school year," the person who answered his question was the teacher supervisor and Kalego's senior, Dantalion Dali. "First of all, it helps us to determine the combat potential of our new first-year students. Depending on the results of this exam, we teachers could help the students in lacking areas. And second," suddenly Dali's usual light-hearted demeanor shifted into a serious one. "And second, it's to show students where they belong right now."

"Where they belong?" Robin echoed, tilting his head.

"Exactly," Dali said. "This exam shows them where they currently stand compared to their peers and sets the bar for where they should aim to be by the end of the year. As for the second-year students who fail to defeat their opponents, it's a wake-up call for them to start putting effort into their combat and physical training."

"But the matchups are random. There'll be unfair fights," Robin pointed out.

"Of course," Dali replied with a playful smile. "Luck is often a factor in battles, too. This exam teaches students to adapt and overcome, regardless of the circumstances."

"Woh! You've thought of everything," Robin said, admiration gleaming in his eyes.

Before the conversation could continue, a soft knock at the door drew everyone's attention. Standing in the doorway was a striking nine-tailed demoness dressed in an elegant black gown and a confident smile on her face.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Kumara said smoothly as she stepped inside the room.

"Not at all, Mrs. Azazel," Dali said, rising to greet her with a respectful nod. "Though I must admit, your visit is a surprise. We weren't informed of your arrival."

"Don't worry about me," Kumara said with a dismissive wave. "I'm here on personal business, not official matters. But since I was passing by, I thought I'd stop in to say hello to all of you."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Mrs. Azazel," Dali said. "Please, come in. Perhaps we could discuss a few things over tea?"

"That's kind of you, but I'll have to decline," Kumara replied with a polite smile. "I have other pressing matters to attend to." She gave a small nod and exited the room.

Not long after, there was another knock on the door and this time it was younger Azazel standing there, "Kalego sensei, can I ask you for a favor?"

******

After leaving the staff room, Kumara, accompanied by the ever-vigilant security demon Moana, made her way toward the student council office to visit her daughter. Deciding to take the scenic route, she strolled leisurely through the corridors to observe the lively activity of the school.

By now, the building was buzzing with energy. Students crowded the hallways, some chatting animatedly while others, rushing to their classrooms

"It's so good to be young," Kumara mused aloud, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "No responsibilities, no deadlines, no superiors breathing down your neck. What a wonderful time of life. Don't you agree?" She glanced at Moana, only to sigh when she noticed the security demon glaring daggers at passing students. "What are you doing?" she asked, one brow arched.

"Scaring off the leeches who are ogling you, Lady Kumara," Moana replied flatly, in a matter-of-factly tone.

Kumara sighed again. She was well aware of the stares—both from boys and girls—but she didn't care enough to address them. "Cut them some slack, Moana. They're hormonal 16-year-olds. Of course, they're going to look at someone as gorgeous as me. So keep your hands in check and don't do anything rash unless someone actually crosses a line."

Moana hesitated, her eyes narrowing at a particularly bold group of students, before replying, "Understood, my lady." However, her posture remained vigilant as they continued their walk.

The pair eventually arrived at the central hall, the liveliest section of the school. The grand space was bustling with students chatting in groups, waiting for someone, or scanning the notice board for any new information.

Suddenly, the bustling atmosphere quieted as all eyes turned toward the entrance. Curious, Kumara stepped forward to see what had captured everyone's attention and saw a green-haired boy walking into the hall, wearing a white turtleneck under a black blazer with a single thin white stripe on the shoulders and sleeves—marking him as a first-year student. His dark red shoes and over-the-shoulder bag added a distinct touch to his appearance.

But that wasn't all. Kumara also observed the reactions of the other students towards the boy and noticed how some looked at him with admiration, others with fascination, and a few with jealousy. However, she couldn't tell if the boy was deliberately ignoring the attention or simply oblivious to it.

Her curiosity piqued, Kumara stepped forward for a closer look, but before she could approach, a lime-green-haired girl bolted toward the boy, her voice cutting through the silence. "Izu-kun!" she called. The boy caught her with practiced ease, spinning her around before gently setting her back down.

Moments later, two more students approached—a blonde-haired girl who greeted him warmly and a boy Kumara immediately recognized as Amaryllis's son.

"Good morning, Izuku," the blonde girl said with a smile. "Your new uniform suits you."

"Wait, did she just call him—?" Kumara began, her voice trailing off.

"Yes, my lady," Moana confirmed. "That's the boy Lady Ameri mentioned."

A slow, sly smile spread across Kumara's face. "In that case, why not introduce myself?" Without hesitation, she strode toward the group and stopped directly in front of the green-haired boy.

Izuku blinked, startled by her sudden appearance. "Uh... do I know you?" he asked, his three friends instinctively stepping closer behind him.

"I'm afraid not," Kumara replied smoothly, extending a hand. "Kumara Azazel, co-head of the Demon Border Patrol."

At the mention of her title, Izuku stiffened briefly but quickly composed himself. He shook her hand firmly. "Izuku Midoriya. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"Oh, I know who you are," Kumara said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Ameri has told me quite a bit about you."

"Did she now?" Izuku asked, his smile growing strained.

Kumara tilted her head, her smirk widening as she studied him. "What's this? You look a little nervous. Is something the matter?" she teased trying to throw a curveball at him.

"Well, I am trying to hold my composure since talking to intimidating and beautiful women isn't really my strong suit," Izuku said, trying to sound as confident as he could. But unfortunately for him, it didn't work, as Kumara just gave him an amused look before bursting into laughter.

"Quite a smooth talker, aren't you?" she said with a sly grin. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you. I hope we'll meet again." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Izuku and his equally stunned friends behind.

******

After his encounter with Kumara, Izuku and his friends made their way to their classroom. Along the way, he received several more compliments on his uniform, which he accepted with his usual mix of humility and slight embarrassment.

Once homeroom concluded, Naberius Kalego led Izuku and the rest of the Misfit Class to the school gym, where the other first-year students, along with their second-year students, were gathered on opposite sides of the field.

Scanning the massive gym, Izuku quickly noted the layout—spacious, with wide open areas designed for combat and high ceilings to accommodate aerial maneuvers. His gaze shifted to the stands, where a few teachers had taken seats. Among them, he spotted Kumara, her nine tails curled elegantly around her chair. Beside her was the blue-haired demoness he had seen earlier.

When his eyes met Kumara's, she smiled at him with a playful and knowing expression on her face. Startled, Izuku quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks heating slightly. From the corner of his eye, he could see her laughing softly, clearly amused by his reaction.

His attention then shifted to Ameri, who stood at the forefront of the second-years like their leader, flanked by the student council members. She raised an eyebrow at him, clearly curious about his interaction with her mother.

Before Izuku could dwell on it, the sound of a magical amplifier crackling to life drew his attention to the center of the gym, where Dantalion Dali stood.

"Welcome to today's Mock Battle Exams!" Dali announced, his booming voice carrying across the room. "I, Dantalion Dali, will oversee this exam alongside Naberius Kalego-sensei." He gestured to Kalego, who stood stiffly beside him, arms crossed and his expression as stern as ever.

"Before we begin, let me explain the rules," Dali continued, his voice taking on a serious tone. "In today's exam, first-year students will face their seniors in one-on-one matches. Each match will last 15 minutes, and first-years can win by either knocking out their opponent or remaining standing until the timer runs out." His gaze shifted to the second-years, who shuffled under the weight of his scrutiny.

"Naturally, killing your opponent is strictly forbidden," Dali added in a sharp tone. "As is intentionally inflicting life-threatening injuries. Finally, outside interference of any kind will result in immediate disqualification."

'So weapons and magic are still allowed,' Izuku noted as he mentally cataloged the information. 'Makes sense. Otherwise, someone like Sabknock would be handicapped by the rules.'

"Now, before we start, does anyone have any questions?" Dali asked and Izuku hesitated briefly before raising his hand. His gesture immediately drew attention, whispers rippling through the crowd. "Yes, Midoriya?"

"Are there any restrictions on the arena we'll be fighting in?" Izuku asked. "I mean, are there defined boundaries we have to stay within?"

Dali shook his head. "No, not really. As long as you don't leave this building, the entire gym is your playground."

"Thank you," Izuku said, nodding thoughtfully. 'Just as I thought,' he mused. 'In a world of magic and bloodline abilities, creativity and adaptability can decide the outcome of a fight. Luckily for me, I could use this to my advantage.'

"Any other questions?" Dali scanned the students, but none spoke up. "Very well," he declared with a wave of his hand. "Take your seats until your name is called. Let the battles begin!"

*****

Two hours had passed since the start of the exam, and by now, of the students had already completed their matches, with the majority of them ending in favor of the second-year students.

At first, Izuku had assumed that the fifteen-minute matches would drag on forever, leaving him stuck waiting for hours. But to his surprise, nearly every match ended well before the time limit. Most wrapped up under the three-minute mark. The longest match, however, had stretched to five minutes—one involving a tall, brown-haired student who was relentlessly chasing after a senior. The senior, meanwhile, had casually started singing a song during the match, and, in a bizarre turn of events, managed to win by the end of it.

Izuku observed that the matches involving the first-years were mostly lopsided. The few students who had won their matches were mostly paired up against second-years who didn't seem all that interested in combat at all. It was clear that the seniors held a significant advantage, especially since they were using powerful spells that Izuku knew he and the other first-years wouldn't be learning for quite some time.

Now, the exam was nearing its conclusion. Only fourteen students remained—of course, including Izuku and the Misfit Class.

As he watched the final few matches unfold, Izuku couldn't help but reflect on how things had gone for his classmates. And well, surprisingly enough not as disastrous as some might think. The results from the misfit class could be divided into three categories.

The first category consisted of the students who didn't care much about the exam and performed halfheartedly.

Agares, for example, had simply slept through his match and lost by default, while Jazz, on the other hand, had tried to steal from his opponent but lost interest when he realized the student had nothing valuable. Instead of backing off, he attempted to attack, only to quickly lose after a swift and well-placed counterattack. Caim had strongly refused to strike his female opponent, only to be knocked out when she didn't hold back and landed a powerful kick to his face. And someone named Purson Soi hadn't even shown up to their match and had to forfeit by default.

Then, there were those who had tried to win but had simply been unlucky.

Shax had faced Johnny, the strict and no-nonsense student council member. Despite his best efforts to steal his opponent's senses, Shax lost when Johnny unleashed a surprisingly strong magic attack, catching him off guard. Allocer, while academically smart, was more of a thinker than a fighter. His match had ended in defeat when his opponent overwhelmed him with physical combat.

Elizabetta had been disappointed by the pairing with a female opponent, but she soon discovered her charm worked on women—just not as effectively. It was a small victory, but it made her smile a little. Eiko, on the other hand, had faced Smoke, another member of the student council, and lost almost instantly when Smoke used her bloodline ability to knock Eiko unconscious.

The final group, however, were those who had won their matches with relative ease.

Alice, unsurprisingly, had defeated his opponent instantly, using his fire manipulation to overwhelm them in the blink of an eye. Corcell had been just as impressive, freezing her opponent before they had a chance to do anything.

Gapp, meanwhile, had been downright terrifying. As soon as the match began, he had rushed his opponent with incredible speed, and with a wind blade at their throat, it was all over before anyone could blink. Sabnock's victory had been just as easy. He had created a massive hammer, used it to squash his opponent in a single blow, and that was that.

And despite the impressive victories of the rest of his classmates, it was Clara's match that Izuku found most enjoyable and satisfying.

******

"Clara Valac," Dali-sensei called out, and the bubbly girl happily skipped onto the field. He pressed a button, and several names flashed on the screen before stopping on one.

A second-year boy stood up from the crowd, a sadistic grin plastered across his face. He swaggered onto the field, his eyes fixed on Clara. "You're that Valac girl who got my brother in trouble, aren't you?" he sneered.

Clara tilted her head, her usual clueless smile firmly in place. "Huh? Who?"

Her genuine confusion only deepened the boy's scowl. "You don't even remember him?" His voice dripped with irritation. "Well, no matter. I was planning to crush you anyway."

The tension in the room spiked suddenly. A chilling pressure swept through the gym, sending shivers down the spines of students and even some teachers. Eyes turned to the source—Izuku Midoriya.

Izuku sat motionless, his face unreadable, but his aura spoke volumes. His gaze locked onto Clara's opponent, and the sheer weight of his presence was enough to make several students gulp audibly. If not for the distraction, they might have also noticed the equally angry expressions of Eiko and Alice, who were seated nearby.

Kumara, however, observed this with growing fascination. While her daughter Ameri was startled by Izuku's sudden shift, Kumara's gaze sparkled with intrigue. As a co-head of the Demon Border Patrol, she had encountered many humans in her time. Some were arrogant, some were ignorant, and some were too scared to even speak a single word. But none had exuded this kind of terrifying aura. Which made this boy much more fascinating in her eyes.

Without a word, Izuku stood and moved two rows forward, taking a seat directly in the front beside Crocell. The ice demoness stiffened, unsure whether to shuffle away or simply flee.

"Midoriya," Kalego's sharp voice broke the tension. The stern teacher loomed nearby, his expression unreadable. "Do not interfere in their match."

Izuku turned his head and offered a smile—a calm, unnerving smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course not, Sensei. Why would I ever do that?"

A straight-faced lie. Kalego could respect that. "Good," he said curtly, though his eyes lingered on Izuku for a moment longer before turning towards the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Clara turned to Izuku, her grin wide and mischievous. "Izu-kun! Don't worry, I've got this!"

The oppressive atmosphere evaporated in an instant. Izuku gave her a small nod. "Good luck."

"Moving on," Dali announced, motioning for the match to begin. "Participants, ready yourselves."

Clara's opponent sneered, pointing a finger at her. "You really think you can hide—"

Before he could finish, Clara leapt into the air.

"If your brother wants a snack," she chirped, tapping her pockets. A fully stocked vending machine appeared in a puff of smoke. "Tell him to get it himself!" She dropped the vending machine directly onto her opponent, crushing him beneath its weight.

The gym fell into stunned silence before Dali declared, "Winner, Clara Valac."

Clara skipped back to her seat, beaming. "See, I told you!"

Izuku nodded and patted her head, "Great job, Clara."

He then stood, shrugging off his blazer and handing it to Eiko. She took it with wide eyes and a slight blush. Her reaction mirrored that of many others in the gym as they caught a glimpse of Izuku's fitted turtleneck, which emphasized his lean, muscular frame. Oblivious to the attention, Izuku made his way to the field, stretching his arms and shoulders.

"Now, your opponent—" Dali began, only to be interrupted by Kalego.

"Wait," Kalego said. "Midoriya, there's someone who wants to issue a direct challenge. It's up to you whether to accept or face a random opponent like everyone else."

Izuku subtly glanced at Ameri, who gave him a small nod. 'So this is the challenger she prepared for me,' he thought. "I accept the challenge."

"Good," Kalego said. "Challenger: Ameri Azazel, step forward."

"What?!" The hall erupted into chaos.

"Why is the president of the student council challenging a first-year?"

"This has to be a mistake!"

Ignoring the uproar, Ameri calmly walked onto the field and extended her hand toward Izuku.

Izuku took it, gripping it firmly. "Don't hold back."

Her lips curled into a faint smirk. "I wasn't planning to, but thanks for the heads up."

They moved to their starting positions, both radiating an aura of confidence that silenced the murmurs in the crowd.

"Is he insane?" one student whispered. "He just told Ameri Azazel—a Rank Six demoness—to not hold back!"

Sabnock scoffed, folding his arms. "Idiots. My rival is about to give her the fight of her life."

"Yeah, sure," another student muttered. "He's dead meat."

Clara, meanwhile, waved a massive banner with Izuku's name on it. "Izu-kun's gonna win!"

Kalego's voice cut through the chatter. "Silence, brats. Both participants, ready?" Izuku and Ameri nodded, their gazes locked. "Then begin!" Kalego barked.

******

"Then Begin!"

Ameri moved first, a blur of speed as she lunged at Izuku with a punch aimed squarely at his face. Quick as lightning, Izuku sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with a punch of his own, but Ameri effortlessly deflected it.

The two exchanged blows in rapid succession, each attempting to gain the upper hand. Ameri was fast and powerful, but Izuku was relentless. For now, he relied on his Danger Sense, weaving and ducking to evade her strikes while looking for openings to attack.

For five intense minutes, they continued their back-and-forth, neither landing a decisive blow. Meanwhile, the spectators were in awe, stunned that a first-year student with no rank was holding his ground against a Rank 6 demoness.

"Go, Izu-kun!" Clara cheered loudly, waving her banner.

"Get her, Izuku!" Eiko shouted, equally enthusiastic.

Alice, meanwhile, watched with a calm expression. As a trained fighter, he could tell this was just the beginning.

Back in the field, Izuku blocked another punch and leaped back to create distance as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

'This isn't working,' he thought, clenching his fists. His arms throbbed from blocking Ameri's strikes. 'Time to change tactics. Let's try Shoot Style.'

Channeling 30% of One For All into his legs, Izuku surged forward. He pivoted mid-stride, unleashing a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Ameri's head, which she managed to block, but the force of the impact made her wince with her arm trembling slightly from the impact.

Izuku's lips quirked up in a brief smirk. 'Finally, a solid hit.'

At that moment, Mirko's words echoed in his head: "Don't give your opponent time to breathe or think—especially the strong ones. Otherwise, you'll be the one eating dirt at the end.' 

Taking the advice to heart, Izuku pressed his advantage. He unleashed a relentless barrage of kicks, each strike pushing Ameri further onto the defensive. The rhythm of his attacks was relentless, forcing her to block and evade with increasing urgency.

In the teacher's stand, Kumara's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of surprise crossing her face upon seeing her daughter on defense like that. Up until this point, there were very few demons who had actually managed to give her daughter a serious challenge, even without her bloodline magic. But right now, a human boy was keeping her on her toes.

Ameri, meanwhile, was growing irritated with each kick as every attack carried enough force to sting, and the continuous barrage left her no room to counter. Her patience finally snapped. She swung her leg up to intercept his next kick, forcing him back, and then launched her own flurry of kicks in retaliation.

But Ameri didn't stop there, and just like Izuku, she kept assaulting him with her legs until she found an opening and feinted left, then swung her leg at his ribs. But to her surprise, Izuku had already anticipated that, as he smirked at her before jumping into the sky.

Channeling 50% of One for All into his leg, he unleashed, 'Shoot Style: Lunar Arc!' An axe kick came crashing down, missing Ameri by a hair as she flew backward to avoid it. The ground beneath his foot shattered, cracks spidering out from the impact.

"Haha! That's what I expected from my rival!" Sabnock bellowed, a wide grin splitting his face.

Back in the air, Ameri was catching her breath, as she only managed to dodge that attack by a hair's length. But unfortunately, Izuku wasn't going to allow that. Because right now, he was above her, and his leg was arched back. And before she could realize what was going on, 'Lunar Roundhouse,' a horizontal roundhouse kick slammed into her face and sent her crashing into the ground.

Gasps filled the arena, and the members of the student council were literally stunned. Ameri Azazel, their leader and probably one of the strongest students in the school, was getting smacked around by a first-year student. They were also pissed at the boy who dared to kick their president in the face, but the sensible part of their brain knew that there was a reason their president issued that challenge, and they could see why.

Going back to Izuku, who was in the air, immediately rushed after her to get another hit in when suddenly his Danger Sense activated. But unfortunately for him, it was already too late, because before he could do anything, "Arahhh!" he received a gut-wrenching punch in his abdomen, which sent him directly to the other side of the court.

Landing on all fours, he struggled to catch his breath when his Danger Sense flared again.

'Right,' he heard Nana's voice in his head and rolled to his right, and in the next moment, Ameri's leg slammed to where he was before. Realizing that Ameri wasn't going to stop now, Izuku quickly got back up on his feet, though the effects of that punch were still affecting him.Then he subtly glanced at the clock and realized that he only had to keep up for five minutes. So once again, he decided to take a risk and change his fighting style. But before that, Izuku took a deep breath and surged the 50% One For All through his body, due to which his body and hair started glowing as green lightning crackled around him.And before Ameri could make her next move, "Tarino Style," Izuku launched himself on a nearby wall... then another... then another, and then he kept bouncing from wall to wall with increasing speed.To the spectators, it was a fascinating sight as all they could see was a ball of green energy bouncing around the room.'So this was the intent behind that question,' Dali thought with a smile. 'What a fascinating young man.'

Meanwhile with Ameri, "What in the-" before she could understand what was going on she received a kick in the face... then in the back... then in her abdomen... then to her side... then in the back of her head and it continued again and again. And in this very moment, Ameri had lost all of her patience cause not only it was annoying to constantly get hit like that but for some reason, his attacks were stronger and were piling much more damage now.

So finally, she made up her mind and decided to use her bloodline ability, which she was avoiding for his sake. But no, he had to push her to the limits, which also made her kind of happy that he had the conviction and power to back his words.

So one final time she took a deep breath and... "Romanticist," suddenly her hair changed from red to glowing pink and her eyes held a new kind of fire in them.

******

The Azazel Family Bloodline Magic: Romanticist (King of Delusions)- By believing in their own strength without question, the user draws out their full potential. Romanticist is the mightiest buff magic of the Azazel family, serving as the ultimate self-hypnosis. It unleashes their power without restraint, amplifying their physical and magical capabilities to incredible heights. However, it is a double-edged sword—should the user waver or feel fear, the magic can backfire, leaving them vulnerable.

******

With her bloodline magic activated, Ameri stood motionless in the center of the field. Izuku's relentless kicks continued to land, but this time, she didn't flinch. She absorbed each blow, her sharp gaze locked on him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

And finally, she saw her opening. 

For a moment the seemed to freeze for both of them, as their eyes met, and in the next moment, her foot connected with Izuku's ribs.

CRACK!

The sickening sound of shattering bones echoed through the arena. The force of the kick sent Izuku flying across the court, his body rag-dolling along the ground before coming to a stop. Silence fell over the room, the sound of broken ribs hanging heavily in the air. All eyes turned to Izuku, watching anxiously to see if he could stand.

Ameri began walking toward him, her expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Izuku struggled to push himself off the ground, his breaths shallow and labored.

"Midoriya, can you—" Kalego started, but Izuku cut him off with a shaky thumbs-up. Slowly, he got to his feet, one hand clutching his injured side.

Then, through the pain, he flashed a determined smile. "Nice hair," he wheezed. "But I think red suits you more."

Ameri let out a laugh, shaking her head. "I'm amazed you can still joke in this state," she said. Her tone turned serious. "But it's over now."

Izuku glanced at the clock and saw only 60 seconds remained on the clock. "Not yet," he replied, releasing a sudden surge of smoke from his body.

"What the hell?" Ameri muttered as she was enveloped in a thick white fog. "Do you really think this will hide you from me?" she called out, annoyed. Then with a single sweep of her leg, she dispersed all the fog on the field, but then she realized her opponent wasn't there anymore.

Then the realization hit her that the fog she dispersed was settled on the side of the ring. She started looking around, trying to find him. "Really, Izuku, you're going to hide from me now, after facing me in such a brutal fight?" she asked, trying to bait him out.

"Who said anything about hiding?"

She turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening as she spotted him sliding out of the smoke. His two fingers glowed abnormally, pressed under his thumb, and his confident smirk only deepened.

"Air Flick: 80%," he said.

The air bullet struck her shoulder with immense force, sending her crashing into the arena wall, leaving a gaping crater in her wake.

Once again, the hall went into complete silence as they tried to deal with their shock. Especially the student council members, who had their jaws wide open when they saw Izuku actually manage to get a good hit on Ameri in her Romanticist form. Not even they had managed to do it yet.

Then they looked at Izuku and noticed that he was clutching two broken, heavily wounded fingers in his hand, while his eyes were still locked on Ameri with intense focus.

Just then from the rubble, Ameri stood. Her glowing pink hair was as vibrant as ever, her predatory gaze fixed on him. Without hesitation, she began walking toward him, and Izuku did the same.

But before they could clash again, the buzzer blared.

Dali stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "Time's up. Winner of the match: Izuku Midoriya!"

As soon as Izuku heard those words relief flooded his body and his knees buckled but just as he was bout to fall to the ground someone came from behind and caught him in their arms, 

"Good job, Izuku-kun," Sullivan said warmly. "I'm proud of you."

"Grandpa!" Izuku exclaimed, smiling weakly. He immediately regretted it as pain flared through his ribs and body. "You saw the fight?"

"Of course I did," Sullivan replied, beaming. "But I was so nervous, Opera had to hold me back to keep me from interfering."

As if remembering something, Izuku separated himself from Sullivan. "Wait here a moment," he said, walking toward Ameri, who sat surrounded by her student council.

******

"Wow, he really did a number on you, huh," Smoke remarked, her sharp eyes scanning Ameri's battered form, focusing on the dislocated shoulder she was clutching.

"That bastard," Johnny growled, his fists clenched in barely contained anger. "Just say the word, President, and I'll—"

"Please don't pick a fight with me," came a strained but calm voice. The group turned, startled, to see Izuku Midoriya approaching. He was clutching his left side, his uniform torn and stained with dirt, yet he wore a tired, apologetic smile. "I just did what any good opponent would do and gave it my all."

"You—" Johnny's glare intensified. He surged forward, hand outstretched to grab Izuku's collar, only for Smoke to step in, blocking him with a sharp, warning gesture.

"He's right," Smoke said firmly. "Ameri was the one who challenged him. He honored that challenge. There's no need for bad blood."

"But he hurt the president!" Johnny's voice rose in protest. "It's our job to—"

"Johnny." Ameri's authoritative voice cut through the tension like a blade. Her sharp gaze silenced Johnny immediately and her tone left no room for argument. "My challenge to Izuku was a personal matter. The student council has nothing to do with it. Now, all of you, go and manage the students. I need to speak with him privately."

Reluctantly, her subordinates nodded and dispersed, though Johnny shot Izuku one last glare before leaving.

Izuku watched them leave, then carefully approached Ameri. He lowered himself to the ground beside her, grimacing at the strain. "You know," he began lightly, his voice tinged with exhaustion, "I never thought you'd be the one to challenge me."

"Honestly, I didn't plan on it," Ameri admitted, her lips quirking in a faint smile. "But when I thought about it, I realized something. No one else could understand the reason or the emotion behind this battle the way I could. So, in the end, I decided to step up myself. And now, here we are—broken ribs and dislocated shoulder."

They exchanged a glance, and, as if on cue, laughter bubbled up between them. It was quiet at first but grew louder, cutting through the tension that had lingered after their fight. Onlookers, however, were utterly baffled. The sight of two demons who had nearly torn each other apart mere minutes ago now laughing together as if nothing had happened left everyone scratching their heads.

But then, their laughter was interrupted by a melodic voice. "My, my, you two are getting along well," came Kumara's amused tone as she approached, her tails swaying elegantly.

"Mom! Please!" Ameri groaned, burying her face in her arms, her cheeks flushing pink.

"Wait. Mom!?" Izuku blinked, startled. "I was, like, 80% sure she was your sister."

"You really are a sweet talker," Kumara chuckled, clearly entertained. Her tails flicked in approval. Then, with a graceful snap of her fingers, a large magic circle appeared beneath Izuku and Ameri. Golden light radiated outward, bathing them in its gentle warmth. "And this," Kumara said with a sly smile, "is your reward for passing the exam."

The healing magic washed over them, and Izuku immediately felt the sharp pain in his ribs vanish. His broken fingers were whole again, and the soreness in his chest faded to nothing.

"You healed us—thank—" Izuku began, but as he tried to stand, a dull ache in his body made him wince.

"Not so fast, young man." Kumara's sharp tone stopped him in his tracks. "I healed your major injuries, but the remaining bruises and pain will stay as punishment for going overboard during the exam." Her piercing gaze flicked between the two of them. "Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Izuku and Ameri replied in unison, both wincing slightly under her stern glare.

Before the conversation could continue, Kalego's voice rang out over the field. "Line up! It's time to assign your ranks!"

To be continued...