The dust hadn't even settled when the silence hit.It wasn't the stunned quiet after a fight—it was the kind of silence that meant something fundamental just broke.
All Might stayed on one knee, breathing heavy. Not because he was exhausted, but because he understood. He had fought villains, monsters, and even forces of nature. But this… this was different.
Kael hadn't just beaten him—he had rewritten the fight itself.
The Students' Realization
Midoriya's hands trembled. He was scribbling in his notebook out of instinct, but the pen barely moved across the paper.That wasn't just speed… that wasn't just strength… His brain replayed every detail, every impossible moment. He let All Might think he landed blows. He altered our perception without us noticing. That means… he can manipulate reality itself.
Bakugo's teeth clenched hard enough to hurt. "Tch… That smug bastard… acting like we're all ants under his boot…" He wanted to shout, to challenge him, but a gnawing, ugly truth was in his gut—he hadn't even seen Kael move.
Uraraka's voice was barely a whisper. "He… he made All Might look powerless…"
Aizawa's Assessment
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, his scarf twitching like a coiled snake.That wasn't just raw power. That was control on a level I've never seen. He dictated the flow, perception, and outcome of the fight before it even began.
He glanced at the class, gauging their faces. They were all still processing it, and that's exactly what Kael wanted—this was a calculated psychological blow.
Aizawa finally spoke, his tone low but sharp."Remember this feeling. What you saw just now wasn't strength you can train to match—it's a gap so wide, you won't bridge it in your lifetime. That's the level he's on."
All Might Speaks
The Symbol of Peace finally rose to his feet. His smile was gone. His voice, when it came, was quieter than anyone expected.
"He's beyond me. Not just in power… but in influence over reality itself. If I fought him a hundred times, I wouldn't win once."
The words hit harder than any punch. The number one hero—the man they all looked up to—had just admitted total defeat.
Kael's Presence
Kael didn't even look back as he walked toward the school building, hands still in his pockets. His voice drifted back casually, but every word landed like a blade.
"You're all measuring yourselves with human rulers. I'm playing on a different board entirely. Don't bother comparing levels—you're not even in the same game."
He disappeared into the building, leaving them standing in the dust.
The Unshakable Truth
Midoriya finally spoke, voice shaking. "If… if he ever decided to turn against us…"
Aizawa cut him off sharply. "We wouldn't stop him. We wouldn't slow him. That's the reality."
Bakugo growled but didn't argue. No one did. For the first time since they'd entered U.A., Class 1-A felt small.