Chapter 33 - Half Time

...

<Unknown >

"NOW THAT THE FIRST TEST IS OVER HERE ARE THE RESULTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Announced President Mic with infectious enthusiasm through the television.

In a place resembling a dark but strangely clean and tidy apartment, there was a woman in front of a large holographic screen watching the UA Sports Festival with interest, her hands moving quickly noting down data, theories and possible uses of the participants' Quirks. 

A moment after President Mic's words, a table appeared on the computer screen showing the results of the first event of the Festival.

...

Oxton Lena --- 1st place

Midoriya Izuku --- 2nd place

Todoroki Shoto --- 3rd place

Bakugo Katsuki --- 4th place

Yaoyorozu Momo --- 5th place

Shizoka Ibara --- 6th place

Jiro Kyoka --- 7th place

Tokoyami Fumikage --- 8th place

...

"IN THE LEAD WE HAVE THE YOUNG OXTOOON! WHO PUT ON A GREAT SHOW WINNING AT THE LAST MOMENT!!"

"IN SECOND PLACE WE HAVE FOVEN MIDORIYA!!! WHO SHOWED GREAT SKILL WINNING SECOND PLACE!!"

"AND LASTLY WE HAVE TODOROKI SHOTO! THE SON OF ENDEVOUR HIMSELF IN THIRD PLACE GIVING A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF HIS STRENGTH AND LEGACY!!"

"WHO WILL BE THE WINNER OF THE SECOND TEST!! LET'S FIND OUT!"

"Turn that off" Growled an irritated and annoyed voice behind a red-haired woman. "I can't stand that idiot."

"Why should I?" Replied the woman as she turned her head toward the voice. The woman, Moira, looked at Reaper with sick amusement. "It's amusing to see the 'best mercenary in the underworld' crying like a bitch over some petty screaming."

"If you don't turn that shit down I swear I'll rip out your eyes, cut out your tongue and slowly torture him..." Reaper said spouting murderous intent all over Moira's lab, curiously the woman didn't flinch at Reaper's threat rather she seemed more amused than before.

"It's not my problem that you asked for an upgrade on your haters, do you even know how hard it is to operate on you?" Said Moira disdainfully as she turned her face back to her computer, she was intently watching the UA sports festivals. "You should be kissing my feet right now."

"Why do I have to put up with being shit?..." Reaper muttered sighing and letting go of his intent. 

"Just accept that you're not very smart, Reaper" Moira sighed as she leaned back in her chair, before turning slightly and asking Reaper. "Are you ready?"

"Affirmative, I'm just waiting for Sombra signal and we'll begin the flight to I-Island" Reaper informed letting out a condescending snort. "It's fortunate that the entire world is watching the Festival...it will make infiltration easier."

"Then make the most of this opportunity, don't fail me or I will turn you three into puppets" Moira threatened with indifference in her voice as she looked back at the screen. "Ah. By the way, the Biotic Alteration Process has been delayed, I have not come up with a way to stabilize the liquid without destroying the patient's cells or severely altering their biology in an uncontrolled manner. In moderate amounts I have found that it can alter cellular tissues to bring the subject's body to superhuman levels, increased reflexes, flexibility and increased neural activity. However they present a change in their personality rendering them completely unresponsive, in both senses of the word."

"..." Reaper was silent for a moment as he looked at Moira with narrowed eyes. "...Why are you telling me this?"

"No special reason" Moira shrugged with an ecstatic smile. "I just thought you needed to know that your new partner can be a bit of a sadist."

***

<Japan UA Alpha Stadium>

"All right! With the 42 winners of the first test let's quickly move on to the second!" Midnight shouted as the screen spun the giant roulette wheel again. "And the next test is...!"

The students had been given 15 minutes to refuel, something Lena was more than grateful for. If she had to start the next event without a break she would be in serious trouble.

Suddenly, the roulette wheel stopped and displayed the second big event of the day.

-Human cavalry battle-

'Well, it could be worse' Lena thought as she thought of the countless games and challenges that came to her mind.

"Human calvalry, ladies and gentlemen!! The rules are simple! You will form teams of 2 or 4. If your Unit is knocked down and the head falls to the ground you will be disqualified!"

Lena's eyes widened in puzzlement as she thought of several people who could easily knock the others down or immobilize them without giving her a chance to do anything. 'Forget it, it suddenly got a lot worse...'

"But...there's one more thing! Participants will get a bandana with points based on their performance and position in the First Event! Depending on who they team up with they'll receive more or less points!"

'That changes the plans a bit... but nothing too far-fetched' Lena thought as she nodded and thought about who she could add to her team.

"There is one exception though! First place will get a million points!" shouted Midnight briefly leaving the entire stadium stunned before they all moved their gazes towards Lena who was looking at Midnight with dead eyes.

'Man...'

"...I think for the first time in my life I wish I was number two...". Lena muttered under her breath as she took a sharp intake of air to calm her nerves from the murderous stares.

"ALL RIGHT NOW GET YOUR TEAMS TOGETHER!! YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES!!!"

***

<10 minutes later>

Well... this wasn't what I had planned but it should work.

Getting into my team became a big no no. Just approaching someone was enough to make them run away like I had the black plague.

'This is annoying...'

At first I wanted to make a group with Kyo but....

"I'm not stupid Lena, I'm flattered that you want to be with me but I'm not going to become an extra large steak with extra sauce and fries... if I'm going to win this test it will be by my own means!"

Kyoka's little pride seemed to kick in along with her usual logical reasoning. 

Cute. But unfortunate.

Then I tried Momo, but I was already with Todoroki. I don't understand why Toru was laughing so hard at seeing Momo and Todoroki on the same team, but whatever.

In the end I decided to make a two-person team.

Why?

There was no particular reason, it was a bet. Yes, again.

But I had a good basis for this peculiar bet. If I could make this work then the test would be a piece of cake!

If you're wondering who is my partner who will save me from my misfortune?

It is none other than... trumpet sounds please.

"Are you ready Oxton?" Asked Shoji as he covered Lena with his limbs.

It was none other than the Class 1A giant! Shoji! 

"Always!" Lena said with a predatory grin on her face. "They're going to regret leaving me out!!!"

"THE CAVALRY BATTLE BEGINS!!!"

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