Chapter 139: Battle Mode, Start!

A strand of black thread lightly brushed against Kaminari's head as he pulled on the robe, only to hear Mitsui Buntais laughing uproariously behind him, accompanied by the barely-contained chuckles of Tetsutetsu.

"This is so embarrassing…" Kaminari muttered, his face flushed.

Shaking off his hesitation, he reached out and grabbed a corner of the suit. Surprisingly, the texture beneath his fingertips wasn't cold like metal, but soft and smooth, almost like a fine silk fiber. [IMG]

"Huh? This doesn't feel like armor at all," he muttered, a hint of surprise coloring his voice.

In no time, Kaminari had slipped the suit on. Before he could find a mirror to admire himself in his new combat uniform, a faint tingling sensation suddenly spread along his arm.

"DNA recording complete."

A neutral, automated voice spoke directly into his ears.

"First meeting, partner! Please give me a name."

"The clothes… spoke?" Kaminari froze for a moment before remembering Dr. Tenma's earlier explanation about the suit's built-in AI system.

"A name, huh?" Kaminari rubbed his chin thoughtfully. For some reason, the situation reminded him of the cheesy tropes he'd read about in online novels, where the protagonist always received some kind of system or overpowered gadget.

"Alright, let's go with… Pikachu."

"Pikachu—!"

To his astonishment, the AI instantly responded with a perfect imitation of Pikachu's iconic cry, so lifelike it felt like the little yellow Pokémon was right beside him. Kaminari blinked in disbelief.

"Wait, how is it this accurate?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Tetsutetsu leaned closer, a skeptical expression on his face. "Uh… are you seriously naming it Pikachu? And how is it supposed to communicate? Just keep saying Pika Pika?"

Kaminari frowned for a moment before an idea popped into his head. "Hey, Pikachu, can you try a humanoid voice?"

"Understood, Master," the AI chirped, its tone suddenly transforming into a high-pitched and cheerful childlike voice. It sounded endearing, exactly what Kaminari had in mind.

"That's not bad," Kaminari admitted. "But hold on… why are you calling me Master? Weren't we partners a moment ago?"

"Isn't the trainer in Pokémon referred to as 'Master'?" the AI replied in an innocent tone.

For a moment, Kaminari was speechless. Then he sighed and shrugged. "Fair enough. Sure, Master it is. No need to stand on ceremony with an AI anyway."

---

"Alright, now that the binding process is done, let's move to the next phase: the combat test!"

Dr. Tenma clapped his hands loudly, and almost immediately, the opaque glass wall to their right slid apart, revealing a pristine white arena roughly the size of a basketball court.

"Combat test?" Kaminari repeated, turning to glance at Tetsutetsu with a sense of déjà vu. The term was all too familiar, and it didn't take long for him to figure out why.

Shua—

Three rectangular openings appeared in the east, south, and north walls of the arena. Moments later, three dark green robots marched out, their movements deliberate and powerful.

"Wait a second… aren't these the same robots we fought during the U.A. entrance exam?!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed in surprise.

"Not quite," Mitsui Buntais replied with a chuckle. "The exam robots you saw at U.A. were developed in collaboration with Mitsui Group and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. We handled the software; they took care of the hardware."

Dr. Tenma nodded in agreement. "These, however, are a step above those models. These are actual combat-grade robots designed for live combat scenarios. Their weight, speed, and strength are significantly higher."

"Incredible…" Kaminari muttered under his breath. For the first time, he felt like he was catching a glimpse of the immense resources top-level conglomerates could wield.

Dr. Tenma placed a hand in the pocket of his lab coat and spoke coolly, "Switch your suit to Battle Mode and engage them. Pay close attention to how the suit enhances your abilities during combat."

"By the way," he added, "these robots are coated with an advanced insulating material. While they're not entirely immune to your Quirk, it'll take more effort to take them down using electricity alone."

Kaminari nodded in understanding, then glanced at the suit he was wearing. "If Battle Mode is the second mode, then what's the one I'm in now?"

He had noticed something odd despite no breeze in the room, the robe seemed to sway gently on its own, as if alive.

"This is what we call Casual Mode," Dr. Tenma explained matter-of-factly. "Though the younger researchers have started calling it Show-Off Mode instead."

"Show-Off Mode, huh…" Kaminari raised an eyebrow. "What can this mode even do?"

"It's more limited than Battle Mode. Casual Mode includes communication, networking, basic lighting, and music playback the last one being something you personally requested in your concept design."

Hearing this, Kaminari's eyes lit up. "It has a music playback function? Alright, let's give it a shot! Pikachu, can you sync with my phone?"

"Of course, Master. Please grant me access to your device."

A notification buzzed on Kaminari's phone. Pulling it out of his pocket, he quickly approved the connection request. Moments later, Pikachu announced, "Synchronization complete! Ready for use."

"Alright," Kaminari grinned. "Let's test the communication function first. Pikachu, call Tetsutetsu."

Tetsutetsu nodded and pulled out his own phone.

"Connecting now."

To Kaminari's amazement, two pale yellow beams of light shot from his collar, forming a translucent holographic screen in front of him. At the same time, Tetsutetsu's phone began to ring.

"This thing has holographic projection?!" Kaminari exclaimed, staring at the light screen in shock.

"Of course," Dr. Tenma replied, his tone casual. "That's a basic feature."

"…Right," Kaminari muttered, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the tech. "Pikachu, cancel the call. Let's see the lighting function next."

In an instant, the suit began glowing brightly, radiating a dazzling golden light that forced everyone in the room to shield their eyes.

"Kaminari-kun! Adjust the brightness before you blind us!" Dr. Tenma yelled.

"Got it! Pikachu, tone it down!"

"Understood, Master."

The light dimmed rapidly until it was a soft, warm glow, casting a faint golden aura around Kaminari.

"This suit might be a bit too over-the-top…" Kaminari muttered, glancing at the shimmering fabric. But despite his words, a grin spread across his face. "Not that I'm complaining."

Dr. Tenma cut in with a warning. "Don't leave the lighting function on for too long. It'll drain the energy storage crystal faster than necessary."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Kaminari replied, quickly deactivating the lighting.

"Now…" He raised his head, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's see what this Battle Mode is all about!"

Dr. Tenma smirked. "The designers took heavy inspiration from your concept sketches. It's as flashy as Casual Mode, but far more practical for combat."

"Seriously?!" Kaminari's anticipation shot through the roof. His hands trembled slightly as he issued the command.

"Pikachu! Activate Battle Mode!"

"Yes, Master!"

In the next moment, the suit began to transform.

***

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