Chapter 96:- UA Entrance Exam Part 2

"The darkness reveals what the light cannot." - Batman (Batman: The Dark Knight)

First was the written exam, but it was quite difficult than the canon

Izuku aced it flawlessly, I mean why wouldn't he, the major section of the exam was regarding the recent events, that had occurred in the past year, and the students were given a scenario and were asked the following questions:-

Whether what has happened in the past year was it morally correct?

Whether you agree to such punishments given by Thanatos? 

What are your thoughts on corruption? 

Was there any other way to deal with it?

Was this the only option?

Were the actions of people in authority just? 

What are your views on society? 

What is your ideal type of society?

What would you have done in their place?

Is vigilantism right or wrong?

What are your thoughts on Vigilantism?

What kind of future do you envision? 

How would you deal with these situations? 

Will you arrest them, even if they are your loved ones or would you help them escape? 

Along with that multiple scenarios were given regarding bullying and other such things like, 

If a kid is being bullied because he is quirkless what will you do? Will you neglect the one being bullied, help him get bullied, or rescue him? If the kid who is bullying wishes to be a hero, should he be allowed or not? and many such questions that looked fictional, but actually were everything where Izuku took center stage, so giving the correct answers was a piece of cake, he just gave answers his past version would have given, and boom, he was the topper of the written exam.

The written test was done to make sure no new joining heroes had the same mindset as Thanatos, as they already had enough chaos that they didn't wish for any more, they already had enough to deal with, which they were barely able to cope with.

Then the practical tests began with the first stage, "Nexus," which was divided into two parts, the first part being a solo simulation where all the students were plunged into a virtual reality cityscape ravaged by a digital villain, a role-playing simulation where they would be under so much pressure and bombarded with emotions, to see whether they make the right choices or not, even in the face of adversities, as one wrong move can cost lives of millions of people. 

And if they pass the first part then they will proceed to part 2, and if failed, then they will be allowed to proceed to the second round but will be kept on a strict watch, and any single sign of repeated mistake and they will be deemed unfit to be heroes, and UA would put a ban on them.

The second part was a team battle where it was no longer a mere test of quirk potency, Nexus demanded resourcefulness, teamwork, and strategic thinking. Rescue bots choked by simulated rubble, virtual flames licked at crumbling buildings, and panicked avatars cried for help. 

To navigate this chaos, candidates couldn't simply blast their way through; they had to cooperate, improvise, and prioritize. A group with a telekinetic brute and a tech-savvy strategist found themselves weaving through burning debris, while a team led by a stealthy quirk user, paired with a charismatic negotiator, calmed the virtual populace to deactivate the villain's panic-fueled power.

And Izuku aced all this as well, as his past self was being really helpful in this situation, his past self was the ideal to pass these exams.

Yet, Nexus was just the prologue. Stage two, dubbed "Morality Maze," presented a series of ethical dilemmas in augmented reality. A runaway train threatened civilians, but diverting it meant sacrificing another group. A hostage situation unfolded, pushing the limits of negotiation and the boundaries of lethal force.

Would they choose the "heroic" path, even if it meant sacrificing lives? Or would they bend the rules, embracing pragmatism and the murky shades of real-world heroics?

While Nexus dealt with whether you have the guts to take the right situation physically, whether you are alone or when fighting in a group, Morality Maze was focused on whether you have the emotional fortitude to make the hard choice, as strong-willed people are often forced to make tough choices.

The exam wasn't just about raw power; it was about uncovering the heroes within who could make tough choices, think on their feet, and prioritize the greater good, even when faced with impossible odds. It aimed to find not just the strongest quirks, but the strongest hearts, the minds capable of navigating the moral minefield of hero work.

As the day wore on, the tension thickened, tinged with exhaustion and exhilaration. Some crumbled under the pressure, their dreams dissolving in the digital mire. Others rose, their quirks and wits ignited by the flames of challenge.

A timid girl, empowered by Nexus' teamwork, rescued a virtual child, revealing a hidden knack for leadership. A boy with a quirk deemed "useless" in the old system used his analytical mind to crack the Morality Maze, exposing a villain's hidden motive.

And finally was the robot battle of the canon. And the result of all the exams, in which they needed to pass, would be able to determine whether they get into UA or not, it was now based on merit, not background.

By nightfall, the dome hummed with exhausted murmurs and quiet whispers of awe. UA had transformed its entrance exam, not just in form, but in spirit. It sought not heroes crafted in the mold of the familiar. Still, heroes forged in the crucible of the unforeseen, where resilience, adaptability, and ethical clarity were the true measure of potential.

By the time the exams were over, more than 90% of students had failed, although not all of them were banned from being heroes as those who failed in the second round just lacked the will to make tough choices and with some effort, they can become good heroes.

But yes those who failed the first exam Nexus, they were banned from becoming heroes, as they made mistakes that cost the lives of many people if they knew this was a virtual simulation yet they made such mistakes that cost lives of so many people, then what would happen in real life, they would make mistakes that can actually cost the lives of millions of people, virtual people are just pixels which can be regenerated, but in real life, a life lost won't come back, and so they needed to realize their mistakes.

Those who couldn't work in a team, and became a hindrance to others working in a team, were totally unfit to become heroes, as they themselves didn't do what was needed and also didn't let others do what was required, they lacked the basic fundamentals needed to be and work as heroes, and thus had no rights to work or be hero.

Izuku brilliantly aced in all, he was the top scorer seconded by Maki, as Izuku knew everything about the test, and there was no reason for him to not ace it, and he had also taught Maki about everything, and knew that she would be able to deal with it easily, which she did, and now both Izuku and Maki were the top scorers of all the applicants, and top scorer of their respective groups.

Although the staff felt it was unreal for someone to have such heroic thoughts and such good scores, but they were so disturbed by the events that happened in the past year, and even more exhausted with all the chaos that they didn't think much of it, and just thought that even in times of chaos there were still people who held on to the path of heroes and can uphold the true meaning of being heroes, and felt satisfied thinking that even in time of chaos the future was still in good hands.

And oh boy how wrong could they have been, to think the very person that was behind the chaos that they had to go through, was the ideal hero they needed, and unintentionally they agreed that Izuku was the right kind of hero. 

Izuku on hearing the meeting done by the teachers and staff laughed maniacally as he said, "Hahahahahah, what a bunch of fools, thinking I am the Ideal hero when I am the cause of your misery, this is going to be so fun," 

While those remaining of the new generation of heroes-to-be stumbled out of the dome, blinking in the fading light, they carried within them not just the echoes of robots and virtual trials, but the dawning realization that UA, in its pursuit of a fairer future, had just ignited a revolution, not just in their own lives, but in the very heart of hero society itself.

The path ahead was still fraught with uncertainties, but for the first time in a long time, the landscape of heroics felt…open. Open to anyone, not just the privileged few, open to innovation, and open to the unexpected heroes waiting to be unearthed from the shadows. 

And in that openness, nestled between the nervous gasps and hopeful smiles, flickered a tiny ember of hope, a promise that the future of heroes, much like the new UA entrance exam, would be shaped not by the past, but by the unforeseen.

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