(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Boomer's hand froze mid-air,
The red Sidekick stamp hovering an inch above Layla's photo.
His jaw tightened, the polite smile barely masking his annoyance.
The murmuring crowd of students quieted instantly as all eyes turned toward the man who had interrupted.
Rudra stood a few steps away, calm as ever, one hand tucked loosely in his pocket.
"If I may,"
He said evenly, his voice carrying through the open field.
"Perhaps labeling a student before even seeing what she can do isn't the best demonstration of what heroes are supposed to be."
Boomer turned, brows furrowed, clearly not used to being interrupted—
Especially not by a fellow teacher.
"Professor Ra-One,"
He said, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"This is how we've always done it. It's tradition."
"Tradition,"
Rudra replied, tilting his head,
"shouldn't be an excuse to limit potential. Sometimes the system needs a… stress test."
Layla blinked in surprise, caught between gratitude and curiosity.
A few students whispered excitedly;
The mysterious new teacher had just challenged the Sky High way of doing things on his very first day.
Boomer exhaled through his nose, clearly weighing whether to argue.
Then, after a pause, he gave a short, strained chuckle.
Chuckle~
"Fine, Professor. If you think she deserves a chance, why don't you take responsibility for her placement? Show us what she's capable of."
Rudra smiled faintly, glancing at Layla.
"Gladly."
Rudra stepped forward,
His calm yet steady presence drawing the students' full attention.
The murmurs quieted.
He adjusted his collar slightly,
His voice carrying an easy authority that didn't need to be loud to command the space.
"Good morning, everyone,"
He began, his tone smooth and deliberate.
"My name is Professor Ra-One. I've been appointed as Sky High's new Creative Professor—which means I'm here to help each of you unlock the true potential of your powers, beyond the limits you think you have."
A ripple of whispers moved through the gathered students.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Even the staff nearby exchanged curious glances—
'Creative professor?'
That was a new one.
Rudra's gaze shifted to Boomer, then back to the students.
"Now, I understand this system of classification has been here for years. Heroes on one side, sidekicks on the other. But…"
He let his words linger,
"shouldn't a hero academy be a place that nurtures growth, not labels?"
Boomer's jaw twitched.
Twitch~
"Professor, this isn't how we—"
Rudra raised a hand slightly, his tone respectful yet firm.
"I understand, Mr. Boomer. But since I'm tasked with fostering creativity and adaptability, I'd like to make a suggestion—one based on observation and fairness."
He turned to face the students again,
Eyes sweeping across faces both nervous and proud.
"What if, instead of dividing you now, we let you all learn together? Explore your abilities, push your limits, and only after the school year ends, each of you undergoes an evaluation—a counseling session, based on your progress, cooperation, and creativity. That's when we discuss where your strengths truly lie, not before."
A hush fell.
The idea was radical.
Logical, but unheard of in Sky High's rigid structure.
Layla's eyes lit up with hope.
"____"
A few other students nodded subtly in agreement.
Boomer scratched the back of his head,
Clearly struggling to respond while maintaining professionalism.
"That's… not exactly against the rules,"
He admitted reluctantly,
"but it's not how we've done it before."
Rudra smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps it's time Sky High tried something new."
Even Boomer couldn't help but give a small smirk at that—
Smirk~
"____"
Part frustration, part respect.
Behind him, Principal Powers watched silently from the observation balcony above, a faint, amused smile curling on her lips.
'As expected of him... Not even giving face to the alumni who might question his decision.'
Hearing Rudra's words, the air in the arena shifted—
But not everyone was on the same page.
Some students straightened with crossed arms and smug grins,
Grin~
Whispering among themselves.
"That's unfair,"
One boy muttered under his breath, his voice carrying a mix of arrogance and frustration.
"I trained all summer for this—what's the point if everyone gets to be a hero now?"
A few others nodded, their confidence wounded by the thought of losing the recognition they were sure they'd earned.
These were the ones already certain of their potential—
Those who knew their quirks could level a wall or light up a battlefield.
Their pride gleamed in their eyes,
Now clouded by disapproval.
Meanwhile, in the back rows,
Quieter students exchanged uncertain looks that quickly melted into smiles of relief.
A girl who could only summon faint sparks between her fingertips let out a small exhale.
Another boy with a minor shapeshifting quirk straightened for the first time since entering the arena, his shoulders easing.
Rudra noticed it all—
"____"
The mix of reactions, the waves of pride, envy, hope, and quiet gratitude washing over the crowd.
His eyes softened slightly.
'Good,'
He thought.
'At least they're thinking. Growth starts with challenge.'
Boomer, catching the tension, gave a low whistle and muttered,
Whistle~
"Well, Professor, looks like you just started a civil war before lunch."
Rudra allowed himself a faint smirk.
Smirk~
"Then I suppose we'll call it a healthy debate, Mr. Boomer."
Layla, arms folded but smiling faintly,
Looked at him with newfound respect.
For the first time that morning,
She wasn't standing alone.
Then, after much back-and-forth discussion beneath the midday sun,
Rudra and Mr. Boomer came to a conclusion.
They couldn't simply abandon the entrance evaluation—
Sky High had a reputation to uphold.
But the method could be changed.
Since Rudra is the creativity professor he was the one who was responsible for planing evaluation.
Since it was the first day Mr. Bommer who has always took care of class division.
But since the Rudra suggest's an alternative way for test.
Then he is more than welcome.
Rudra's tone was calm yet commanding as he addressed Boomer,
The clipboard still tucked under the man's arm.
"We'll conduct an entrance test,"
He proposed, his voice cutting through the murmuring crowd of students.
"But not just to sort them into heroes and sidekicks. Instead, three professors will serve as judges. Each will score the student's quirk demonstration—maximum of ten marks each. A total of thirty points."
Boomer rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So… if they don't hit ten points total?"
"They don't pass,"
Rudra replied simply.
"But… if a student shows potential—even if their quirk is unrefined—they'll be given three months. During that time, their progress will be monitored. If they can show measurable improvement each term till the end of the first year, they'll stay."
Boomer let out a long, low whistle, his grin spreading wide.
Whistle~
Grin~
"Not bad, Professor. You're mixing merit with growth. Haven't seen that in a long time."
Before Rudra could respond,
A sudden whoosh of air cut through the grounds.
Whoosh~
"____"
Papers fluttered,
And a faint trail of blue sparks spiraled down from the sky.
All heads turned upward as a streak of light descended at blinding speed,
Spinning like a meteor before landing gracefully on the field.
The wind rippled through everyone's hair as the dust cleared,
Revealing a tall woman in a sleek silver-blue suit, her boots clicking against the ground as she stood upright.
"Principal Powers…"
Boomer muttered, straightening his posture immediately.
Rudra glanced at her with quiet curiosity—
The same woman who, just yesterday, had been smiling coyly behind her desk now looked every bit the force of nature she was reputed to be.
Her aura radiated command and confidence.
"Good morning, everyone,"
She said, her voice echoing with a cool authority.
"I see our new Creative Professor and Mr. Boomer have been busy rewriting traditions."
Her lips curved into a smirk as she looked at Rudra, her eyes gleaming like comets themselves.
"Well, Ra-One… let's see if your ideas can fly as high as this school."
The students erupted in murmurs,
"____"
"____"
"____"
Excitement building once again as the sky shimmered faintly above—
The unique Comet Quirk still leaving trails of light from her descent.
Soon, the real show began.
The courtyard of Sky High transformed into an open testing arena.
A circular platform had been erected in the middle of the field,
The students lined up in rows on either side,
Their murmurs buzzing with nerves and excitement.
Overhead, floating drones recorded everything for the principal's archive, their lenses glinting in the sun.
Mr. Boomer blew his whistle sharply.
"Alright, freshmen! One by one, show us what you've got! Remember—creativity, control, and confidence!"
The first few students stepped up—
Some nervous, some cocky. Ice blasts that fizzled out before reaching the target.
One kid turned invisible halfway through his demonstration but forgot how to turn back to normal his face leaving behind his headless body.
A few sparks and minor telekinetic lifts later,
Boomer's clipboard already had a few 'Needs Improvement' marks.
Then came Gwen Grayson.
The moment her name was called, the air changed slightly.
A quiet hum filled the area as she stepped forward—
Sleek, confident, her sharp eyes glancing briefly at Rudra.
It wasn't admiration in her gaze—
It was analysis.
She was studying him, like an engineer examining a machine's inner structure.
Her hands lifted slowly, and around her, several metal panels from the nearby training drones began to vibrate.
Circuits glowed neon blue as her eyes flared faintly.
With a fluid motion,
She dismantled three drones midair, twisted their pieces together,
And reassembled them into a hovering cube of whirring steel.
"Techonopathy,"
Rudra murmured to himself, eyes narrowing in interest.
Even through he already knew about her the main antagonist power.
But seeing it with own eyes is diffrent.
"She can communicate directly with machines."
Boomer whistled.
Whistle~
"Pretty impressive for a freshman!"
But Gwen didn't respond—
Her focus stayed on Rudra,
Her gaze cold and curious.
It was as if she wanted to see through him.
Rudra simply smiled back, offering no reaction.
Then, the next name called out drew a different kind of tension.
"Warren Peace!"
The murmurs rose again.
A tall boy stepped forward,
His black leather jacket glinting under the light,
Long hair falling across a half-brooding face.
His hands clenched at his sides, and fire erupted from his palms with a roaring whoosh.
Whoosh~ Whoosh~
Boomer's grin faltered slightly, his voice dropping.
Grin~
"Peace, huh…"
Principal Powers, who stood observing from the side, folded her arms.
"Son of Baron Battle,"
She said quietly.
"One of the most infamous villains in recent history. His mother remarried—took the name Peace."
Rudra watched as Warren threw twin fireballs into the air,
Shaping them into flaming rings before dispersing them with a flick of his wrists.
The control was raw but impressive.
Rudra nodded thoughtfully, noting both power and restraint.
Nod~
"____"
Then, finally—
It was Layla Williams's turn.
Boomer adjusted his whistle with a smirk.
Smirk~
"Alright, Miss Equality, let's see how heroic your gardening skills are."
Layla frowned, unamused by his tone, and stepped onto the platform.
Frown~
"____"
She raised her hands slowly, her eyes glowing a soft green.
The ground beneath her feet trembled.
A second later,
Vines burst upward—
Thick, strong, and alive.
In mere moments,
A full-grown tree spiraled into existence right before everyone's eyes,
Its roots sprawling across the stage as branches twisted into graceful arcs.
With a flick of her wrist, the branches moved, following her command like living limbs.
Boomer's jaw went slack.
"____"
"...Okay, that's—uh—that's something."
The crowd of students gasped and applauded.
Even the drones zoomed in closer to capture the sight.
Principal Powers raised an eyebrow, impressed.
"Her quirk has matured,"
She murmured softly.
"More than I expected."
Rudra, however, didn't look surprised.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He could feel the natural energy pulsing around her—
The raw, vibrant flow of life itself.
'She's connected to nature in more ways than she realizes,'
He thought.
As he could feel through his nature's son trait.
When the tree's branches gently lowered and dissolved back into the earth,
Rudra clapped once—
Clap~
Calm and composed.
"Excellent control,"
He said, his voice even but approving.
"Remember that power without balance destroys the roots. You've mastered both."
Layla blinked, slightly startled, then nodded in quiet respect.
"____"
Nod~
Boomer, meanwhile, was still scribbling furiously on his clipboard, muttering under his breath,
"...Alright, fine, she's no sidekick."
Rudra chuckled faintly—
"____"
His first day as Creative Professor, and he had already changed the way Sky High saw its own heroes.
Then finally came the turn of the last student —
Will Stronghold.
The boy stepped forward with a nervous expression,
His pale face betraying the storm of anxiety within.
His movements were hesitant,
Each step heavier than the last,
As if he was walking toward an inevitable defeat rather than a simple evaluation.
Boomer, who had been flipping through the student profiles with casual interest,
Froze when his eyes landed on the name.
"Stronghold…?"
He muttered, looking up sharply at the boy before him.
Then realization struck —
"____"
His expression shifted to one of pure excitement.
"You're Steve Stronghold's kid! The Commander's son! Well, well—this should be good!"
He grinned widely, almost bouncing on his heels with anticipation.
The entire group of students leaned in,
Whispering among themselves.
Even Principal Powers raised a curious brow,
Her usual composed demeanor softening with interest.
But Will didn't share their excitement.
Gulp~
"____"
His shoulders slumped slightly,
And his gaze fell to the floor.
For a moment, he opened his mouth to speak,
But no sound came.
Boomer tilted his head.
"Well? Go on, kid—show us what you've got!"
He encouraged, tone filled with eager confidence.
The silence stretched.
"____"
The whispers from the crowd began to grow louder —
Uncertain, confused, judgmental.
Finally, Will took a deep breath and forced himself to speak, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sigh~
"I… don't have a quirk."
The entire arena went silent.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Boomer blinked, stunned, as if he hadn't heard him right.
Principal Powers' expression shifted —
No longer curious, but faintly sympathetic.
Some students gasped while others exchanged uneasy looks.
Rudra, standing with his arms folded, simply watched.
His eyes flickered with something else entirely —
Interest, not pity.
He could sense something beneath that timid exterior… something dormant.
Just need a trigger or a catalyst to force him to use his power.
Feeling her childhood friend standing awkwardly,
Layla Williams felt a pang of worry.
Even though they weren't romantically involved,
Will had always been like a little brother to her.
She took a small step forward,
Trying to encourage him,
Her hand half-raised as if to reassure him silently—
But the nervousness in her own face betrayed her effort.
Boomer, on the other hand, couldn't believe what he was hearing.
'The son of Commander Stronghold… quirkless?'
He sneered, convinced it was some kind of joke.
'How could the legendary Commander's son be without a quirk?'
Without hesitation,
Boomer pressed a red button on a remote he seemed to have pulled from nowhere.
In an instant, a sleek vehicle descended from the ceiling, hovering ominously above Will.
The boy's eyes widened in terror as he screamed, panic-stricken.
"____"
"I—I don't have a quirk! I swear!"
The car trembled in midair, poised to land, while the room held its breath.
Layla's heart raced as she instinctively stepped forward, ready to intervene, her anxiety mirrored in her clenched fists.
The car hit the ground noting happened to Will he got struck beneath the car.
The tension in the room reached a palpable peak.
Rudra let out a calm sigh and stepped forward,
His presence immediately commanding attention.
He looked down at Will Stronghold,
Who was struggling beneath the hovering car,
And spoke with steady authority, addressing him by his full name.
"Will Stronghold,"
Rudra began, his voice cutting through the tension,
"you need to believe in yourself if you want to use your quirk. Until you break the shackles of your own self-imposed limitations, until you stop underestimating yourself, no quirk, no power, no ability will respond to you."
He then turned toward Principal Powers.
"It would be wise to place him in the group of students to be monitored for three months during the first year. If he still cannot overcome himself, then perhaps he should consider another profession—not hero work. But I can see… this boy's potential."
"The helplessness you see now is temporary. Soon, he will awaken the superhuman strength inherited from his father, and later, perhaps even the flight abilities of his mother."
Principal Powers paused, considering Rudra's words.
The weight of the Stronghold legacy was undeniable.
After a thoughtful nod, she agreed.
Nod~
"Very well. He will be given this exception. The name Stronghold carries enough weight to merit a few months' observation."
Rudra gave a small, knowing nod.
Nod~
"____"
He knew that Will's moment of awakening—
When he finally trusted himself—
Would come soon enough as he decided to not careabout any damn plot as he did with brahmastra.
And when it did, there would be no stopping him.
The car was picked up gently and put down by Rudra who now as super strength.
Which settled harmlessly on the floor,
"____"
Leaving Will trembling but unharmed.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): Guys Any Idea For MC's Hero Logo.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone too!!!
Guys it will motivate me more?