Obstacle Race

"Haha, is this guy the class monitor of the Hero Course? Not bad, really interesting. Just because of what he said, I want to send him an invitation!" A Pro Hero laughed and decided to invite Jilan Jiyu to their agency.

"This is what Sports Festival should be like! Competitions that shout 'Friendship first, competition second' are completely meaningless!"

"Brother, we support you! Win first place for me!" Jilan Jiyu's words instantly stirred up the passion of the audience, who cheered and the Scream to support their favorite!

After Jilan Jiyu stepped off the stage, the audience continued to cheer, and the contestants below were also indignant, starting to verbally attack Bakugo who had Bakugo their sentiments.

"You're pretty arrogant, aren't you? Just you wait during the match!"

If Jilan Jiyu's speech just now brought everyone's hidden desire to win to the surface, speaking of a harsh reality, then Bakugo's words truly provoked public outrage. To use oneself as a stepping stone? What a joke!

Even more shockingly, in his excitement, he uttered the derogatory term "Sludge Monster." Clearly, he was alluding to Bakugo's experience of being captured by an enemy codenamed "Sludge Villain" before enrolling in the academy, and his barely escape with All Might's help.

"Oh no! Why did they have to bring up Kacchan's sore spot?!" Midoriya screamed inwardly. He knew that although society praised Bakugo for holding out against the enemy until rescue arrived, in Kacchan's heart, it was an indelible shame. He didn't want to experience that feeling of helplessly waiting for rescue again!

However, Midoriya, whom Midoriya had expected to Bakugo arguing with the others, merely glanced at him indifferently and made no comment, seemingly not taking the matter seriously at all.

"... So that's how it is. I should have realized it sooner. Kacchan is planning a do-or-die approach, using his strength to erase his dark past." Midoriya clenched his fists once more, his resolve hardening. "If that's the case, how could I possibly give up so easily!"

That's more like it... Jilan Jiyu's lips curled into a slight smile.

If we want to create drama as Aizawa suggests, no matter how outstanding one person's performance is, it's impossible to attract the attention of the entire audience. Only by motivating everyone to give their all in this competition can we truly make people go crazy.

He glanced at the media frantically snapping photos of him and nodded in satisfaction. Conflict meant viewership. Regardless of who won the Sports Festival, it would definitely attract nationwide attention. As long as the competition was exciting, the USJ incident would basically be over.

My words just now will shift most of the public's attention to the champion. If I can achieve a mid-range result in this competition, I can relax a little.

According to Jilan Jiyu, the champion this time will likely be one of Shoto Todoroki, Katsuki Bakugo, or Izuku Midoriya. It's not that he thinks the students in Class B are not strong enough, but there is a decisive difference between the two classes: the students in Class A have participated in real battles and can attack their enemies without any psychological resistance.

Class B and other classes, on the other hand, have only received limited simulated training, and will subconsciously hold back when facing enemies.

However, this is just a prediction. The actual competition is unpredictable, and no one can draw any conclusions until the very last moment.

Maybe I can get first place too?

Jilan Jiyu had just entertained this bold idea when he laughed it off. How could that be? Without revealing his identity as the "Killer Queen," he didn't think his Quirk had much of an advantage.

However, despite thinking this way, he wouldn't easily give up the championship if he had the chance to win it.

"Alright, enough chit-chat, let's get started on the first competition!" Midnight, looking at the enthusiastic audience, draped his whip over his shoulder and laughed loudly, "The first event is the so-called preliminary round. Every year, a large number of students are eliminated at this stage. The first event that determines their fate is—"

As Midnight spoke, a screen resembling Hearthstone matchmaking interface suddenly popped up behind her. The page on it changed rapidly, eventually forming a name written in Chinese characters and English.

"Obstacle course!"

"All students from all eleven classes will participate in this race, which will circle the track, covering a total distance of approximately 4 kilometers." Midnight licked his lips meaningfully and said, "Our school has always valued freedom; as long as you don't leave the track, you can do it in any way you like!"

Before the students could even process the meaning of her words, she continued, "Alright, alright, everyone to your positions, stop dawdling!"

More than 200 students stood still at a doorway. It was pitch black inside, and the path to the outside world was blocked by a door resembling U.A. High School Wall. Everyone stared solemnly at the green light above.

Unlike the others who were desperately pushing their way forward, Jilan Jiyu stood at the back of the crowd in a spacious area, observing their surroundings.

As the green lights went out one by one, Midnight gave the order, "The race begins!"

A light appeared in the darkness—a path leading to the outside world. Everyone instantly exerted their strength and began to run!

"Alright, let's begin the live broadcast!" Just like all competitions, each game needs professional commentary, and for U.A. High School, the commentator is Present Mic. "Hello everyone! I'm your old friend Mic, and I'm here to commentate again. This is my partner, the newly unearthed mummy! Say hello to everyone!"

"Hey, you're the one who dragged me here, aren't you?"

Ignoring Aizawa remarks, Mic asked to himself, "Get to the point, Mummy, what do you think are the highlights of the early game?"

"Right now."

As expected... Jilan Jiyu looked at the crowd crammed together in front of them and felt helpless, recalling the commotion in the restaurant when the reporters broke in earlier.

"Don't these guys ever learn their lesson...?"

While waiting, Jilan realized that this race was like a marathon, with no designated tracks and participants positioned according to their own will. However, the track ahead was too narrow, and the walls made it easy for congestion to occur.

Normally, walking would be fine, but this is an extremely crucial race. No one will easily give way, and in the end, only the person standing at the very front can run out and widen the gap by a large margin.

But... this world has beings known for their Quirk, so how could anyone just stand by and watch the person in front of them go out first?

Soon someone took action, and panicked shouts began to emanate from the front.

"What's going on? Why is the ground softening?! Ahhh, I'm trapped!"

Shoto Todoroki, in the first group, looked back and saw soft, swamp-like mud creeping towards him. He sighed softly, "Sorry, I didn't want to do this."

The temperature in the entire passage suddenly dropped to zero, and in that instant, an ice storm erupted, even spreading and freezing the exit door!

In this crowded environment, almost everyone's legs were frozen in ice crystals, unable to move forward! During this time, a rustling sound rang out on the ice, and Shoto Todoroki's figure emerged from the icy mist, dashing out of the passage ahead of everyone else!