As Nyx dived, the colossal robots that Todoroki had frozen fell over because of the imbalance.
Meanwhile, the drones kept humming in the sky and didn't pursue Luke and Nyx.
Canceling the Gigantification, Luke landed on the course and began running, his speed already much greater than Todoroki's.
Shoto looked over his shoulder and found Luke only a few dozen meters behind him, his eyes narrowing.
With a massive hiss, several tiny icicles shot out of his right leg in reverse, expanding left and right.
Within a moment, a massive ice wall appeared between Luke and Todoroki.
I see what you did there… Luke smiled unknowingly. Great tactic, kid. "Nyx… up!"
…
"Attack and Defense with one move!" Present Mic commented, seeing the ice wall and the frozen robots. "Young Todoroki has snatched the lead from Luke, clearing the first barrier!!"
Next to him, Erasure Head nodded. "The ice wall's height is above the massive Villain bot," he said, analyzing. "If anyone tries to cross it by flying over it… they will again have drones to deal with… Nice strategy. It's just…"
…
Meanwhile, in the Robo Inferno barrier, all students began using their own tactics to create a path through robots.
Bakugo, Hanta, Fumikage, Eijiro, and Tetsutetsu, a Class 1-B student with Steel Quirk, were among the first ones to cross the barrier.
Momo created a cannon, bombarding the massive robots.
Uraraka used her Gravity Quirk, Toru hid herself among the students, hiding her infrared signature, and Midoriya… grabbed a piece of robot, using it as both weapon and shield.
…
In the glass room, watching the students on big panels, Sand narrowed his eyes. "If you aren't avoiding them," he said, mentioning the 0-Point massive robots, "then they are just slow machinery full of gaps.
"It would have been better if the drones could act as suicide bombs or loitering munitions."
All Pro Heroes, including All Might, stared at Sand with disbelief.
Sand, uncaring of their feelings, just shrugged.
"Class 1-A has had first-hand experience of the outside world," he said, eying the students as they approached the ice wall. "They have learned to act on their instincts, not slowing down and wasting their time to needlessly assess unimportant situations.
"If the other students don't improve their acts soon, there will be no point in keeping two classes in Hero Course."
"You are talking non…"
"No." All Might stared at Sand, knowing the man's history well enough.
"He's right," he said, shocking everyone. "Still, there are some promising candidates among other classes and courses, Sand. You will see their spirits… if you cared to look."
"Tch!" Sand tsked, a smile flashing on his face. "You know it as well as I do, All Might. Some people… are just born to dominate."
…
On the racecourse, just as a screaming Bakugo eyed Luke standing near the ice wall, Nyx reached the other side, dodging the drones' attacks.
"Fanboy!" Bakugo screamed, laughing. "I will be going ahead!"
With a boom, he slammed his palm on the ice wall somewhere in the middle where Luke couldn't reach, creating a fist-sized hole.
It was obvious he didn't want Luke and Nyx to follow him through the hole by limiting the blast's output.
Booms after booms rang out as Bakugo slammed his palms on the thick ice wall, keeping himself in the air.
Luke looked at the boy, buried the hate inside, and shook his head.
Ignoring the kid, he snapped his fingers and disappeared, Nyx appearing in his place.
Quirk — Exchange Positions!
By the time Bakugo made a hole big enough to pass, he found Luke already disappearing to the next barrier.
Overhead, Nyx used the same hole to avoid the drones.
The moment she saw Bakugo in front of her, a nasty frown settled on her beak.
"I am so sorry!" she cawed loudly, flying over Bakugo's head. "I can't control…"
Then, she pooped on his head.
…
"Did you see that?!" Present Mic shouted. "Gigantification? Exchanging Positions? Just what is this boy's Quirk, Mummy Man?"
"Will you stop calling me that?!" Erasure Head hissed. "The Raven is his Quirk. Make your peace with only that…"
"Haha! Someone's touchy!" Present Mic laughed. "Will you look at that? Todoroki's already past the second barrier! That's the No. 2's son for y'all! Haha!"
…
The second barrier was The Fall.
In a massive pit, large stone pillars were erected, connected to ropes.
Unlike the first barrier, though, it was obvious that this barrier was designed to give advantage to the flying-type Quirks; the advantage that they had snatched away in the Robo Inferno.
Luke again rode Nyx to clear the barrier right behind Todoroki.
Then he reached the last obstacle — The Minefield!
It was a great swath of land scattered with mines.
However, the mines weren't only under the layer of earth.
As Luke looked up, he found several round, baseball-sized drones just hovering in one place.
Landing on the ground and canceling Nyx's Quirk, Luke knew he must depend upon other abilities to cross this barrier.
There were Beyonder powers that stood out too much to be used when the world's eyes were on him, like Door Opening.
He couldn't have used it on the ice wall, as he couldn't relate it to his Raven Quirk to explain later.
However, some abilities were just abstruse enough that he could dump them on Nyx.
So, smiling at Todoroki, who was looking over his shoulder at him, Luke stepped forward and — casually began walking.
Todoroki's eyes widened.
As if that wasn't enough of a tragedy already, Luke began running, jumping, doing unthinkable acrobatics… as if there were no mines under his feet.
Using the Clown's insane Danger Intuition and precise control over his balance, he closed the gap between him and Todoroki in seconds.
Standing next to the boy, with a few meters between them, Luke stopped. "Would you like to see something funny?" he asked, smiling.
Then, without waiting for a stunned Todoroki's answer, he snapped his fingers.
NO! Todoroki realized what was happening a little too late.
In the next moment, he exchanged positions with Nyx, stepping over a mine.
Boooooooooom!
****************
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