The stadium was still trembling from Astra's entrance—she had just landed from MACH SPEED after stopping a meteorite, and now she stood in front of Bam like nothing happened.
Bam swallowed hard.
"H-How am I supposed to fight someone who was at the end of the world ten minutes ago…?"
His hands were shaking, but his spirit wasn't.
Astra tilted her head innocently.
"Ready?"
Bam raised a trembling hand.
"Wait, uh… should we maybe postpone the match? You literally stopped a METEOR. You must be tired."
Astra shook her head.
"I'm fine. I just saved some penguins. Let's fight."
The audience ERUPTED.
"PENGUINS!!""THE CHILD OF GOD SAVED PENGUINS!!""THIS IS THE GREATEST TOURNAMENT START EVER!"
Even the pro heroes watching looked emotional.
Bam forced himself to breathe.He tightened his gloves.He stood tall.
Astra took one step toward him, eyes soft but serious.
"Bam. Your Nexas is pure strength, right?"
"Yeah."
She nodded once.
"Then for this match… I'll only use strength. No speed. No flight. Nothing else. Not because I underestimate you… but because I want this to be fair."
Gasps exploded across the stadium.
Bam stared at her, stunned—then a grin stretched across his face.
"No need for that. Use your full strength.If I lose, I lose. I'll accept it."
His classmates beamed with pride.
Roger whispered,"That's our Bam."
Rain nodded,"His heart is strong."
Even Zack smirked,"Idiot. Brave idiot."
Principal Leonel raised his hand.
"MATCH ONE… BEGIN!"
◆ ◆ ◆
The Clash
Astra bent her knees slightly and soared straight upward—not fast, not using flight, just a superhuman jump.
Bam braced himself.
Forty meters up, Astra kicked off the air and dove.
She didn't accelerate. She didn't break sound. She simply… dropped with her natural strength.
Bam planted his feet.
"COME ON!"
Their fists collided.
BOOOOOOM!
The shockwave tore across the stadium.Dust blasted outward.The ground cracked beneath them.
The audience screamed.
"WHAT A HIT!!""BAM IS HOLDING HER OFF!?""NO WAY!!"
Astra smiled.
"Good punch."
Bam coughed blood.
"I'm just getting warmed up—NGH!"
Astra landed lightly, then dashed forward.No flight. Just raw muscle.
Bam swung—Astra slipped inside—they clashed again.
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
Each hit pushed Bam back further.His arms trembled.His legs shook.
But he never backed down.
"I…won't…run!"
Astra admired that.
But the fifth collision—a clean body blow—sent Bam skidding across the arena.
He slammed into the boundary and slid out of the ring.
Silence fell for two seconds.
Then—
THE STADIUM ERUPTED
"ASTRA WINS THE FIRST MATCH!""SHE SAVED PENGUINS AND STILL FOUGHT!?""I'M GONNA CRY!"
Bam groaned, trying to stand—Astra gently helped him up.
"You were strong. Really strong."
Bam laughed weakly.
"Yeah? Then next time I'm beating you."
Astra smiled sincerely.
"I look forward to it."
His classmates rushed him.
Roger: "YOU FOUGHT A GOD, BRO!
"Zack: "You didn't die. Respect."
Rain: "You did well, Bam."
Astra received cheers, applause, flowers—and penguin plushies thrown from the stands.
Even principal Leonel sighed,
"Bless the animals… and bless this child."
The tournament had only just begun.
But the world already understood one thing:
Astra Noire wasn't just a prodigy.
She was a hero—through and through.
And Bam?
He walked away with pride…and a new fire burning inside him.