"Hitoshi Shinso from the General Studies has gotten the better of Izuku Midoriya from the Hero Course!"

Present Mic's words carried surprise and shock, reflecting the emotions of the entire audience.

What happened?

What went wrong?

Why was Midoriya just standing listlessly on the stage?!

Class 1-A students, seated in an area exclusive to themselves, were gobsmacked as well, Ojiro holding his head as he remembered his warning to Midoriya before the match began.

Luke and Tenya were discussing their match, seated next to each other, when they too raised their brows at the strange development.

On the stage, Shinso eyed Midoriya with a flat look.

"You are lucky… You all from the Hero Course are lucky… Blessed, I would say," Shinso said. "I didn't make it to the Hero Course because my Quirk wasn't suited to the Practical Exam.

"I made my peace with it, like I have always had. Now, you must make your peace with what's going to happen from here on, Midoriya.

"Turn around and walk out of the stage's bounds."

From Class 1-A's sitting area, Luke narrowed his eyes as he heard Shinso's words, more or less confirming that the boy had a Brainwash-type Quirk.

Luke wasn't overly concerned about Midoriya's win or defeat, though.

To an extent, he agreed with Shinso when it came to luck.

How else to explain Midoriya having One For All?

However, what happened next made Luke shoot up to his feet, his eyes going wide.

The world in Luke's eyes blurred, golden spirit particles dancing on a multicolored background.

The entire space was rippling as if someone was folding it from the outside.

A distinct hum buzzed in Luke's ears, his blue eyes glowing bluer than ever.

His Spirit Vision was activating by itself!

…

[Luke! Close your eyes! Massive Spiritual Fluctuations are happening in your line of sight! NOWWWWW!!!]

…

Luke didn't want to close his eyes.

He wanted to see what was going on.

Yet, something primal within him… fear, perhaps… made him snap his eyes shut.

Almost simultaneously, a massive BOOM rocked through the stadium, wind blasting against the audience's faces.

By the time Luke opened his eyes, his heart thumping wildly against his chest, Midoriya had already pushed Shinso out of the bounds.

Midnight raised her hand. "Midoriya advances to round two!"

As Shinso stepped off the platform, and a few of the Pro Heroes remarked that it was a waste not to keep him in the Hero Course, Luke sat down, stunned.

Just what happened? He asked a few minutes later, catching his breath and dearly wishing that Nyx was with him right now.

…

[

No clue. It's all normal again. But whatever it was, it was affecting your Spirituality enough to activate your Spirit Vision involuntarily.

These cases are the worst kind, Luke.

You need to be very careful to keep your senses intact and go against them, if needed.

]

…

Luke licked his lips.

Running away… is easy, Miss Justice, he said after a while. If I want answers and progress further in my investigation, I need answers — right when the opportunity presents itself.

…

[You mean…]

…

As Midoriya joined them, his and Luke's eyes matched.

A touch of the friendliness they shared for each other was dwindling on its last legs, it seemed.

With Luke winning against Tenya and Midoriya winning against Shinso, the first match of round two would be between them.

Still, a Clown could wipe the emotions off his face like colors.

Luke let out a friendly smile. "Are you alright?" he asked as Midoriya sat near Uraraka. "What happened out there?"

Midoriya smiled wryly, giving an excuse.

Luke nodded and looked away, confirming that it was something related to One For All; otherwise, there was no need to give an excuse.

If you aren't willing to share, Luke thought, clenching his fingers into fists, then I will find it out differently… kid.

…

Rumble!

Luke's eyes popped out of his skull as the hundreds of meters tall wall of ice almost brushed against his face, scaring the System out of him.

One moment, Hanta was wrapping Todoroki in tape, gaining an upper hand.

In the next moment — in the blink of an eye — an ice mountain sprang up on one half of the stadium, passing right over the audience's heads.

…

[ — Praise be to Mr. Fool! Let's hope we will never have to fight him…]

…

Luke's mouth twitched wryly… hoping for the same.

…

The next battle could only begin after half an hour, as they removed the ice only when the audience had slowly walked out from under it.

In the fourth battle, Denki Kaminari fought Ibara Shiozaki from Class 1-B.

Her Quirk — Vines — gave Ibara hair-like vines that grew on her head. She could lengthen and manipulate the vines, allowing her to attack, defend, and grapple simultaneously.

As soon as their fight began — it ended.

"Tenya," Luke said, smiling, "they broke our record."

That brought out a few laughs from everyone, Tenya smiling wryly.

Meanwhile, Midoriya pulled out his notebook and began taking notes on Ibara's Quirk.

"Hey…" Luke leaned over Tenya's lap, trying to see into the notebook. "What do you have in it over me?"

Midoriya instantly shut the notebook.

That again brought out a few laughs from everyone.

…

[I have to say. I thought you would not digest the Clown Potion till next year. But you are learning fast. Being a genius does help, I guess.]

…

Luke leaned back to his seat, smiling.

If you are impressed by me, he thought, talking to Miss Justice, then just wait for Nyx to become a Clown…

…

[Seer Pathway suits Nyx, Luke. Just like Marauder suits you.]

…

Luke's smile flickered at Miss Justice's honest remark.

Suddenly, he eyed the students who would be fighting the next battle.

…

[Oh! It's your girlfriend, Luke!]

…

She's not my girlfriend, Miss Justice… Luke eyed the two girls taking the stage and couldn't help but shake his head.

Next battle — Toru Hagakure vs. Mina Ashido!

****************

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