Chapter 12: Trials and Beginnings
Aaron's POV
Like the other examinees, I stood outside the towering gates of the test site. We didn't have to wait long before Present Mic's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Okay—START!"
Everyone froze, confused by the lack of countdown. But I was already sprinting ahead.
Seeing me rush forward, Bakugo immediately followed, blasting himself forward with that same manic grin.
"What's wrong? There are no countdowns in real fights!" Present Mic shouted again, finally jolting the rest of the examinees into motion.
I had only one mission in this exam: take first place.
Why? Simple. To annoy Bakugo.
I decided to handicap myself—only Titan's Pulse, nothing else. If I used my other quirks, it'd be too easy, and frankly, not fun. With Titan's Pulse at 100%, I matched Midoriya's 10% OFA strength. That was more than enough.
There were two ways to rack up points: smashing robots, or—what only I knew—rescuing people.
The robots came in four types:
1-pointers2-pointers3-pointersAnd the 0-pointer, a walking disaster.
I launched into combat, tearing robots apart with speed and precision. My goal wasn't just destruction—it was efficiency. The faster I moved, the fewer chances anyone else had to score.
Sure enough, the others quickly realized that sticking too close to me meant getting nothing. They scattered to find their own targets.
Everyone except Bakugo.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY, EXTRA!" he roared, blasting past me to land on a two-pointer.
For about two minutes, he stubbornly tried to compete, managing to down only three robots. Reality caught up with him, though—if he stayed on my path, he'd be starved of points. Scowling, he veered off, detonating everything in sight with explosive mobility.
"Well, that was fun," I muttered, knocking another bot into the scrap heap with a grin.
Along the way, I also rescued a few "injured" students, securing myself rescue points.
....
Third Person POV
In a dim monitoring room, walls of screens displayed live feeds from every exam site. UA's faculty quietly assessed each student, analyzing more than just combat—information gathering, composure, teamwork, and adaptability were all under review.
"This year's examinees look promising," one teacher remarked. He pointed to one of the screens. "Look at the boy in Site C. His efficiency is remarkable—he's demolishing robots while rescuing others without breaking stride."
The other teachers turned their attention to the feed. On-screen, Aaron Black was systematically dismantling robots, his movements fluid and lethal.
Nezu tapped at his tablet, pulling up Aaron's file.
Name: Aaron Black
Origin: Transferred from the USA three years ago.
Quirk: Listed as body-strengthening.
Family: Orphan, lives with an aunt.
Interesting, Nezu thought. To reach this level of proficiency at his age… intriguing.
But another teacher pressed a red button with a sly grin.
"The real test begins now."
The ground trembled. Exam sites across the city shook as if an earthquake had struck.
And then it appeared.
The Zero Pointer.
Gasps erupted as the towering machine rose above the cityscape. Many students bolted instantly—Bakugo included. Running wasn't cowardice; Present Mic had clearly said to avoid it.
But two students charged forward instead.
One, a green-haired boy, sprinted toward the debris where a girl lay trapped. The other, a dirty-blonde boy with blazing blue eyes, simply wanted to make a statement.
Izuku Midoriya leapt, smashing his fist into the Zero Pointer's head. The attack was devastating but left him broken and bloody.
Aaron, however, doubled down—literally. Activating Double Up, he pushed Titan's Pulse to 200%. With a smirk, he vaulted into the air, his fist crashing down with a thunderous BOOM.
The result was cataclysmic. The Zero Pointer didn't just stumble; it was hurled back like a rag doll. Shockwaves shattered windows and rippled through the entire area.
The teachers froze, stunned. All Might's jaw tightened, Nezu's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Two Zero Pointers, destroyed in one exam.
The intercom crackled to life. "That's the end of the practical exam!" Present Mic announced. Recovery Girl rushed to the field, tending to the injured.
Aaron? He walked away calmly. A little ice cream felt like the right celebration.
.....
Aaron's POV
A week later, I found myself walking through UA's gates again. Naturally, I'd been accepted into Class 1-A—scoring 120 points, the highest overall.
Finding the classroom wasn't difficult. Most of the students were already there when I walked in, except Mineta, Uraraka, and Midoriya.
I knew Izuku and Ochako would show up late. But Mineta… yeah, I'd taken his spot. A man of culture, sure, but let's be real—he didn't belong in the hero course.
The seat beside Tokoyami was empty, so I took it. That's when I noticed every eye in the room fixed on me.
"…What?" I asked.
"You're the top scorer, right?" Tokoyami's calm voice cut the silence.
Before I could answer, Bakugo's furious roar shook the room.
"YOU MUSCLE-BRAIN! HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY NUMBER ONE SPOT?!"
Before things could escalate, Tenya stepped in with robotic precision. "Classmates should not fight amongst each other!"
"ZIP IT, FOUR-EYES!" Bakugo snapped, eyes burning holes into me.
Just then, the door slid open. Izuku entered with Ochako close behind. Tenya immediately swiveled away, launching into his overly formal introduction.
From the corner, a voice drawled lazily. "If you're here to play friends, do it somewhere else. This is the hero course."
Eraser Head emerged from his sleeping bag, introducing himself as the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A. He handed out gym uniforms and ordered us to the training field.
On the way there, the students chatted.
"Did you hear?" Aoyama said dramatically. "A very strong villain broke out of prison in America just this morning."
I tuned most of it out until we reached the field.
"A Quirk Apprehension Test," Aizawa announced. He gestured at me. "Since you placed first in the entrance exam, you'll demonstrate. In junior high, you did these without your quirk. This time, use it."
He handed me a ball.
I stepped into the circle, musing. How much power should I use?
Titan's Pulse at 100% should do.
I hurled the ball skyward. Aizawa's device blurred before settling at 840 meters.
The class gasped.
"That's it?! I could do way better!" Bakugo snarled.
"It looks fun," Ochako whispered, eyes sparkling.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "Fun, huh? Then let's make it fun. Whoever comes in last place—gets expelled."
The test began. Sprinting, long jumps, grip strength—it was a blur of competition. Midoriya floundered, barely scraping by. But in the ball throw, he finally showed sparks of potential. Guided by Aizawa's harsh advice, he managed to use One For All without completely shattering his body.
From the sidelines, hidden behind a board, All Might watched in secret. His excitement at Izuku's progress was obvious.
I turned mid-throw, locking eyes with him, and grinned. He flinched at being caught but pressed a finger to his lips. I smirked and turned back.
When results were posted, I stood at the top. Momo and Shoto followed, with Bakugo sulking in fourth. And Midoriya—dead last.
"I was only joking about expulsion," Aizawa said flatly, sending the class into another collective gasp. Relief washed over them, especially Midoriya, who nearly collapsed.
With that, the test ended.
On the way back, I noticed Izuku walking just beside me, Ochako trailing him.
"Hey, Izuku." He jumped, startled. I continued, "Answer me this: when you put an egg in the microwave, do you heat just one part of it… or the whole egg at once?"
"Of course, the whole eg—" He stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening as realization struck.
"Right. And don't heat it too much… or it'll explode." I walked ahead, leaving him frozen in thought.
Izuku isn't dumb. He just needs the right nudge. He's been channeling OFA into single limbs instead of his whole body.
That little hint should be enough for him to figure out Full Cowling.
Time passed, and the classes finally came to an end. I left right away—I had been waiting all week to play the new video game that released today.
.....
The next day arrived, and I was back in the classroom. Most of the lectures were boring, dragging on until the afternoon. The only highlight? The incredible food prepared by Lunch Rush. Seriously, that chef could make cafeteria food taste like something out of a five-star restaurant.
It was finally time for Hero Basic Training class.
"I AM… coming through the door like a normal person!" boomed All Might as he entered—though nothing about his dramatic pose was normal.
The entire class lit up with awe at the sight of the No. 1 Hero standing before them.
All Might announced that he would be their instructor for Hero Basic Training. His booming voice carried excitement, almost as if he was more eager than we were.
Then, with a grand gesture toward the wall, he declared that the best way to learn was through battle training.
As if on cue, compartments in the wall opened up with a hiss, revealing rows of metal briefcases. Inside were our hero costumes—personalized gear designed from the requests we had submitted earlier.
I had kept mine practical: a tactical training suit with braces to protect my joints. Sleek and functional, white in color with black guards for contrast. No frills, no flash. Just efficiency.
........
The following is a list of quirks in Aaron's possession.
Aaron's Quirks
Kinetic Leak – Allows Aaron to absorb and redirect kinetic energy, turning enemy attacks into fuel for his counterstrikes.
Double Up – Doubles the power of his physical stats for short bursts, giving him overwhelming speed and strength at the cost of stamina.
Push & Pull – Grants him the ability to attract or repel objects and people, functioning like controlled polarity on the battlefield.
Titan's Pulse – A devastating strength-based quirk that lets Aaron channel explosive force through his body, amplifying raw power for crushing blows.
Barrier – Creates protective energy walls that can block incoming attacks, giving him both defense and creative utility in combat.
Aerokinesis (Wind Manipulation) – Lets him generate and control air currents, from sharp wind blades to massive blasts capable of leveling opponents.
Clear Mind – Sharpens focus by suppressing distractions, fear, or pain, allowing him to fight with complete clarity in critical moments.
Pyrokinesis (Fire Manipulation) – Enables him to summon and control fire, which becomes even deadlier when combined with Aerokinesis to fuel blazing infernos.
Gate Walker (Teleportation) – Opens portals to instantly travel up to 50 km to any place he's physically been, though limited by range and stamina.
Cataclysm – Cataclysm is a quirk that turns Aaron's entire body into a conduit of overwhelming destructive energy, allowing every movement—punch, stomp, or breath—to unleash shockwaves that obliterate anything in its path.