Three days after the battle simulation test, Allen went to U.A. to take the written exam.
When he arrived at the entrance of the imposing institution, he stopped for a moment.
There were quite a few students there, but compared to the number from three days earlier, it was only a fraction of that.
Most likely, the institution had privately contacted those who failed the previous test so they wouldn't come this time.
From the start, everyone knew that U.A. was the most difficult hero school to enter; out of thousands of applicants, only forty would be accepted, with a few hundred more admitted into general studies, support, and other departments. Of course, failing the exam wasn't the end of the world. Everyone was perfectly capable of applying to other schools, even other hero academies.
According to Allen's research, in previous years, students could enter U.A.'s general studies without going through the Hero Course exams. However, that had changed this year. Apparently, for security reasons, U.A. now wanted even general course students to be capable of defending themselves.
Allen thought it made sense, especially alongside the recent change to the minimum entry age. It had been ridiculous that fifteen-year-olds were allowed to risk their lives against villains, so now the minimum age was seventeen.
Another change that caught Allen's attention is that there are no longer any recommendations.
For example, talented youths could enter U.A. directly without taking the exams. But Director Nezu had changed that too, so now even exceptionally talented individuals or the children of top heroes were forced to take the tests like everyone else.
Allen wanted to believe that these changes made by Principal Nezu had nothing to do with him or his influence on this world. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing to think so many rules had been altered just because of him.
Coming out of his thoughts, his gaze swept over the young people present. He recognized several faces from the previous test, but none he was close enough to start a conversation with.
On the other hand, once people noticed Allen, murmurs began to spread. That wasn't surprising—among those who had taken the first exam, Allen had stood out the most. Beyond that, at this point, his "Quirk" was probably on everyone's lips.
"Hey, look, it's that guy."
"Is he really Superman?!"
"No, I think his Quirk lets him copy other people's Quirks."
"Isn't he like that arrogant guy who was bragging that day?"
"You mean Monoma? No, his Quirk is Copy. I know because I went to school with him and he loved showing off. But unlike him, this guy is way stronger."
"From the rumors going around, he can even copy mutant-type and stockpile Quirks, and really powerful ones too… he's basically the premium version of copy-type Quirks, a monster."
There were all kinds of reactions: caution, surprise, admiration, jealousy, and even fear. But Allen wasn't bothered by what people said or thought about him. In the end, this was part of the plan—his Quirk needed to spread in this way so no one would think he was Superman or some other vigilante.
Yuuki – Mmm, so it really was a good idea to let people know about the templates after all?
Kate – It's true, you could've just used one type of template during your time at U.A.
Saya – That wouldn't work. Allen doesn't have permanent templates, and it would be troublesome to run out of options once the templates are used up.
Akeno – Ara~ so if he reveals his "Quirk" in a weaker version, he can keep using different templates under the excuse that he created them.
Tony – You just have to be careful not to change physically… I see.
Esdeath – Oh, now that I think about it, what percentage can you use without undergoing any physical changes?
Allen thought for a moment before answering. "It depends on the template. If the template belongs to someone whose powers are tied to their body, like Superman, Shazam, or some god, then the higher the percentage I use, the more physically robust I become. In the specific case of turning into Superman, once I go past fifty percent, my muscle mass starts to increase..."
Kara – Is that so? Incredible.
"Of course, there are opposite cases. For example, with Albus Dumbledore, I thought I would turn into an old man when using the old wizard's template, but the changes from becoming a 'wizard' were more generic. I only got a wizard robe, a pointed hat, several magical accessories, and his wand, even when I used one hundred percent of the template. Of course, that makes sense—I didn't become Albus Dumbledore, I became an Allen Walker who was born as an Albus Dumbledore. It's a bit confusing..."
Wednesday – So basically it's like becoming Batman but not Bruce Wayne, or becoming Superman but not Clark Kent.
"Yes, that actually sums it up pretty well."
Juvia – Of course, Allen-sama doesn't need to be anyone else, he's already perfect the way he is! ❤️~
"Thanks," Allen chuckled softly.
Allen walked over to a tree and leaned against it, waiting for some of the girls he knew well to arrive. According to a couple of messages and calls, they shouldn't take long.
....
While Allen waited, Deku appeared. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept at all. He didn't even notice Allen, since his face was buried in his notebook while he reviewed his notes.
"At this rate, he's going to collapse before the exam, haha," Allen shook his head.
The hardest part was the combat simulation. Of course, the written exam mattered, but generally, if you passed the practical test, more than half the road was already cleared.
Bakugo appeared shortly after. When he saw Allen, his eyes turned bloodshot. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to fight, but he clicked his tongue and decided to head inside instead.
Seeing his pointless hostility, Allen sighed. Sure, Allen had messed with him during the exam and even prevented him from standing out, but was it really necessary to be that rude? Where were his manners?
With a mocking smile, Allen said, "I thought I heard the sound of an angry badger, but I guess it was just my imagination."
"Huh?! Bastard!"
Katsuki Bakugo was a walking stick of dynamite—just a little spark was enough to make him explode. Allen was about to teach him a lesson his father never did, but unexpectedly a red-haired boy with sharp teeth grabbed Bakugo from behind.
"Idiot! Do you want to get expelled?!"
[Eijiro Kirishima
Quirk: Hardening]
"Let me go! I'm going to kill that bastard!"
Kirishima dragged Bakugo into the building, leaving Allen mocking the honey badger.
"..."
That was until he noticed a pair of inquisitive eyes watching him closely. Allen returned the look, realizing it was a peculiar boy staring at him.
[Shoto Todoroki
Quirk: Half-Cold Half-Hot]
"...?" Allen recognized the boy with half-white, half-red hair. He had seen him use a powerful ice Quirk against the giant robot, but he hadn't known he also had a second fire Quirk.
'That's strange. Why didn't he use that Quirk back then?'
[Maybe he can't yet. You know, they're just starting their paths as heroes.]
The system had a valid point—no one there had reached the peak of their development yet.
Todoroki had no intention of talking to Allen, so after observing him for a moment, he went on his way.
Allen, for his part, showed no great interest either.
He continued waiting as boys and girls passed by. Some stopped to talk to him—students he had saved that day—but they seemed a little intimidated by him, so they limited themselves to greeting him before moving on.
That was until a short, light-gray-haired girl approached him.
[Reiko Yanagi "Emily"
Quirk: Poltergeist]
"Thank you..." the girl said with little expression.
"Don't mention it," Allen replied with a smile, but Reiko didn't change her expression. She stayed silent, staring at him for almost a full minute before bowing slightly and walking away.
Allen shrugged. "What a strange girl..."
"Allen-san~" Toru waved as she arrived.
Allen smiled and raised his hand. Toru understood the gesture and high-fived him. If they were being called for the written exam, it meant she had passed.
Of course, he knew how important and exciting this was for her, and even if he didn't share the same level of excitement, he was happy for Toru.
Toru and Allen talked, sharing what they had been doing these past few days, and a few minutes later, Momo and Itsuka arrived.
The group entered U.A., where they took the written exam, which was essentially the easy part.
At the end of the day, Allen finished his test and headed home after saying goodbye to the girls.
This time there was no surprise upon arriving, since Nemuri was busy with work.
....
Allen spent some time in the apartment before deciding to go out for a walk around the city, but since it was already close to night, he thought about calling Koichi to see how his attempt at being a vigilante was going—just to watch him fail miserably at it.
Koichi: "Allen? What's up?"
Allen: "I'm curious to see how your training with that crazy guy is going."
Koichi: "You won't believe it, but Shishou (Master) broke into my apartment and now I see him all the time."
Allen: "Haha, well at least you'll have a hairy chest to keep you warm during the cold nights."
Koichi: "Don't say such creepy things!"
Allen: "By the way, Koichi-kun, I got accepted into U.A. High School."
Koichi: "Oh, congratulations."
Allen: "Koichi, someone like you has everything it takes to be a hero. Why didn't you ever try?"
There was silence for a full minute before Koichi spoke.
Koichi: "I did try, but on the day of the exam I was late… once I lost my chance to get into U.A., I went to a regular school, and before I knew it I was in college with a part-time job where delinquents can show up and beat me up."
Allen was left speechless. Was there a more miserable ending for a superhero than that?
Koichi: "But I think it was for the best. Now that I've grown up, I don't think my Quirk was good enough to be a hero."
Allen: "What are you talking about? Your Quirk lets you attract and repel things, right?"
Koichi: "Well..."
Allen: "That basically makes you Gojo-sensei, just without being handsome."
Koichi: "Gojo?"
Allen: "Don't worry about it."
Allen shook his head wryly. If there was one thing he had learned in this world, it was that all Quirks had the potential to evolve. Trigger could forcibly push that evolution, but the best proof was One For All—each successor, each generation, made it stronger.
For everyone, Koichi Haimawari's Quirk might not look like much, but at its core, it was an attraction-and-repulsion ability, which was essentially the Blue and Red of Infinity.
Allen: "So don't underestimate your Quirk. Anyway, let's leave it at that and I'll see you tonight, Cockroach Man."
Koichi: "I already told you my name is The Crawler… whatever. But I warn you, I'm just going to patrol, there won't be anything interesting."
Allen: "Yeah, yeah, I know. But knowing you, you'll get into trouble, and I'll be there to watch it happen."
Koichi: "Y-You… you forget I'm older than you. You should show a little respect—"
Allen hung up, cutting Koichi off mid-sentence.
"That was cruel, wasn't it?" Jalter said mockingly as she floated behind him.
"If he wants my respect, he has to earn it."
Allen glanced at his notifications and realized he had several unread messages from Kazuho, better known as Pop Step.
When he checked them, Allen smiled. "She sure is a cheerful girl."
They were invitations to one of her improvised concerts. It wasn't the first time the pink-haired girl had invited him—usually so that afterward Allen would treat her to food or they'd go hang out somewhere.
"I guess Koichi can wait a couple of hours."
[As always, your priorities are very clear.]
....
Somewhere in the city, a small crowd had gathered, cheering for Pop Step.
"How's everyone doing!~"
"I love you!"
"Pop-chan, give me an autograph!"
"Pop-chan, I'm gonna tattoo your name!"
"I can see everyone's in great spirits today!"
Pop began singing on top of a telephone pole. She often held improvised concerts, but she also announced them on social media for her fans, and lately she had been telling Allen where they would be.
Pop Step, whose real name was Kazuho, was a fairly simple girl. She didn't seek the massive fame of a professional idol—she just wanted to live her life to the fullest, and that was what made her shine in the eyes of her fans.
Kazuho gave it her all on stage, and when she finished, she waved goodbye with a smile.
"Alright, see you next time!~"
With a wink and a grin, she leapt away from the area. Her Quirk wasn't dangerous, so using it wasn't illegal; however, her concerts didn't have proper permits, and along with disturbing the peace, they were still minor offenses.
"Today was a good day~," the girl said as she hopped across rooftops. Still, she soon pouted when she realized Allen hadn't arrived in time to see her performance.
She decided to call him and complain, but before Kazuho could land on another building, a shadow loomed over her from above.
"There you are, bitch!"
"Again?! You?!"
Looking up, Kazuho was shocked to see one of the thugs who had bothered her before. She quickly tried to escape, but the thug had used Trigger, causing his Quirk to evolve.
"You won't get away!" shouted the lizard-man, who now had wings similar to a pterodactyl's.
Saying these guys were persistent was an understatement—twice they had been beaten senseless, yet they kept coming back for more.
The lizard thug, whose real name was Rapt Tokage, tried to grab Pop Step, but she landed on a rooftop and rolled to dodge him.
"Ugh!"
"Damn it!" Rapt growled.
His mission was to capture Pop Step before any hero or vigilante showed up.
Kazuho leapt from building to building while Rapt flew after her.
'How disgusting… and why has he changed so much? He can even fly now?!' Kazuho pulled out her phone to call for help.
Seeing this, Rapt panicked. Even if his Quirk had grown stronger, he didn't have what it took to be a real villain, so he wanted to avoid facing heroes.
Rapt accelerated and slammed into Kazuho from behind, knocking her off balance.
"Ahh!" Kazuho screamed as she fell from five stories up. This was bad—she wasn't immune to falls, and at this height, she could die.
"Help!"
"On it..."
Kazuho fell straight into Allen's arms. She opened her eyes in disbelief.
"You?! How did you get here?!"
Allen raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you call me?"
Kazuho gasped. She had called him, but that was only seconds ago—how had he arrived so fast? Or had he already been nearby?
Allen smirked at her, then quickly turned serious as he looked at Rapt.
"No!"
Panicking, Rapt tried to flee, but Allen didn't allow it. With a single breath, he froze him into a statue of ice.
Allen flew faster and caught the statue before it hit the ground—not only to prevent such a gruesome death in front of so many people, but also because it was a clue that could lead to whoever was behind the distribution of Trigger.
Unexpectedly, the ice shattered, and Rapt burst free. This time his body was black and red, wrapped in a dark aura.
[Rapt Tokage
Quirk: Lizard → Draconic Form
Type: Mutant
Value: 5]
Rapt vanished with terrifying speed and reappeared behind Allen.
"Well, just what I needed..."
Allen laughed before extending his hand, grabbing Rapt by the throat, and hurling him toward the ground.
Rapt crashed down, disrupting traffic and forming a small crater. Even so, he stood back up—now driven by Lucifer's power, he wouldn't be defeated so easily.
Allen set Kazuho down on a rooftop and looked at the third-rate villain who, thanks to Trigger, had first become second-rate and then, with Lucifer's power, a first-rate villain.
"I guess I need to teach you a more thorough lesson..."
A card appeared in Allen's hand.
*Crack*
Allen's bones began to creak as if breaking and rebuilding. His body grew larger, making Kazuho step back in fear.
"Allen, what's happening?" Kazuho asked nervously.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Allen said in a deep, heavy voice that made her gasp in disbelief.
....
RAAAHHHH!!
Rapt roared in rage and used his claws to launch blades of air that sliced through the walls of several buildings.
People began to flee as the villain seemed to have completely lost his mind.
Blinded by fury, Rapt attacked everything in sight, until his gaze locked onto a family trapped inside a van. He approached them as the streetlights reflected off his scales and his wings spread wide.
He was terrifying—powerful—a mon—
RAAHH—
Before Rapt could attack, his movement stopped. Behind him, a massive shadow rose.
When the humanoid dragon turned around, he froze. Before him stood an emerald-colored monster with white hair, silently staring him down.
"..." He was massively muscular, and his body radiated an oppressive aura.
There was no logical reason for it, but Rapt seemed to regain a bit of awareness because, instead of attacking, he took a step back.
But the emerald giant grabbed him by the neck as if he were nothing more than a lizard.
"ALLEN SMASH!"
Allen roared and grabbed him by the tail, slamming him into the ground again and again like a rag doll.
....
In Avengers Tower, a roar of excitement echoed throughout the building, while Tony groaned, already regretting that he would probably have to pay for the damages.
====