The manipulation of Iron Sand is Tetsumaru's greatest strength. The weapon developed by Suna's Third Kazekage was disgustingly useful and versatile, easy to use with the right level of practice.
And with no techniques to focus on, no responsibilities of a real shinobi, and without the threat of a more backward and dangerous world where running out of energy to fight would be a death sentence, practice was all Tetsumaru dedicated himself to since before his legs had the strength to hold him upright.
His mastery went so far that he learned to feel through his Sand—specifically, through the magnetic field that surrounded it.
It was a curious sensation. It wasn't sight, touch, or hearing, but he could divine simple things like obstacles and individuals, as well as their total number.
That was exactly what he was doing at this very moment.
His mind went completely silent, with no trace of Mei's presence, focused entirely on his sand, his magnetic field, and his chakra.
He created platforms onto which the semi-organized groups of kids loaded the casualties they found. Since the shinobi was neither omnipotent nor omniscient, it was up to the students to push and pull the platforms.
He limited himself to keeping them afloat. He wouldn't risk moving something he couldn't see while simultaneously monitoring twenty other constructions.
Suddenly, the communicator Yaoyorozu had made for all the teams crackled, and a voice unfamiliar to Tetsumaru asked for his help.
The shinobi moved his own Sand platform in the indicated direction. Although he was wearing the equipment Hatsume had prepared for him, he chose to expend a little more chakra rather than appear like some divine being among the brats.
Upon arriving, he came across a shy girl with antennae and butterfly wings.
—Down there! I can detect signs of life, but we don't have the strength or the tools to penetrate the building!— she reported with a nervous expression. Tetsumaru thought she was cute.
The shinobi released tendrils of Sand that slipped through the cracks and broken windows of the collapsed structure. A quick search and a greater effort of concentration allowed him to find two civilians trapped in an inner chamber—likely an office.
How the hell they got in there was a mystery to him.
—These guys really are professionals— he thought with genuine respect.
The Sand danced around the actors and guided them through a safe path, leading them away from the danger zone.
Without ceremony and confident in his knowledge—as well as the grueling training he had endured under Thirteen—Tetsumaru formed a drill of Sand. He carved a perfect hole that did not destabilize the rest of the structure, extracting the civilians without much difficulty.
While ignoring the approving looks from the actors and the amazed murmurs of the girl with antennae, Tetsumaru's attention shifted to the walls near the area where the wounded were being taken.
A massive explosion tore down the wall, and a beastly roar echoed through the surroundings.
Every head turned toward the source of the din, and many eyes widened at the sight of the final challenge of this exam.
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—Fighters, stop the gang members. The rest of you, focus on the rescue and secure the civilians— Mei heard Tetsumaru's order through her team's communicator.
As the only combatant among these unfamiliar students, the kunoichi handed the device to a random boy and launched herself toward the greatest threat.
Around her, the chaos the examiners likely expected remained under control, thanks to the instructions that Yaoyorozu and other quick-thinking planners had devised with Tetsumaru during the break in the waiting room.
Mei had only recently learned of that detail. She had already suspected it; after all, her other half was many things, but a tactical genius wasn't one of them.
The kunoichi pulsed chakra into her legs, boosting herself even further with brief, flashing bursts of acceleration that allowed her to cover the distance in mere seconds.
The first thing she noticed was a giant humanoid reptile with a considerable chest flying directly toward Tetsumaru.
Mei raised her hands into the air and focused her mind on the special storage seals, unleashing a rain of compressed water bullets as if she were a human turret.
In the air, Ryūkyū flapped her wings majestically, watching the students below with a menacing air. She quickly located her designated target and altered her course, aiming for a direct charge.
She was well aware of young Tetsumaru's capabilities; it was because of him and his sister that the HPSC had requested her participation in these exams. Ryūkyū had come to contain the boy and prevent him and Mei Terumi from overwhelming Gang Orca.
However, the Dragon Hero was suddenly assaulted by a rapid series of impacts. While they didn't have the strength to shake her or penetrate her natural defenses, they did force her to search for their source.
—Speak of the devil— she thought, her draconic eyes focusing on the kunoichi.
Ryūkyū didn't bother wasting time on the girl. Descending to the ground wouldn't pose much of a threat to her, but leaving Tetsumaru alone would be stupid. Aerial superiority would be countered with aerial superiority.
Back on the ground, Mei snorted in annoyance. She could chase the woman or use intense jets of water to launch herself into the air and kick her right in the snout, but fighting a flying enemy was tedious. She would leave that in Tetsumaru's hands.
Mei continued her sprint and headed straight for Gang Orca, who had just sent Kirishima flying with a punch and momentarily stunned Izuku with a sonic wave.
She realized that as soon as she approached, the Pro Hero's attention shifted to her even more than to the attackers surrounding him.
—Finally, a worthy opponent!— the humanoid Orca exclaimed, raising a fist in a suspicious manner. —Our—
Mei bombarded the Hero with a volley of water bullets, silencing his dramatic declaration.
—...Has she never seen or read anything about me?— Gang Orca wondered, ignoring the heavy impacts with his even stronger body and gracefully accepting the free hydration.
—Mei, don't use water!— Tokoyami called out, wearing a cloak of Dark Shadow that protected him and granted him superior strength. "You're helping him, not hurting him!"
—That's right, Todoroki's girlfriend! Move and stop getting in the way!— Yoarashi Inasa roared, unleashing a powerful gale that forced Gang Orca to lower his center of gravity to resist the winds.
The Hero observed the growing number of opponents calmly, with very few of them being real threats. He decided to start putting serious pressure on them to force them to formulate a fast and effective strategy.
—Shiketsu Gorilla! You need to go with Tetsumaru and help him stop the lizard!— Mei shouted at Inasa, internally deciding she would kick him in the balls later.
Before the Shiketsu student could reply, Gang Orca vanished from his original position in a flash of speed that defied his massive frame.
Without the restraint he would have used in a reality where Mei and Tetsumaru didn't exist, the Hero unleashed his full physical capacity in this confrontation.
Tokoyami leaped into the air, throwing a punch that Dark Shadow extended several meters in an attempt to strike the opponent, but he was far too slow.
—If you can't see the enemy, don't charge head-on!— Gang Orca rebuked, seizing the limb and pulling with abysmal force that neither Tokoyami nor Dark Shadow could resist.
The shadow stripped away the protection from Tokoyami's arms and back, concentrating all its mass onto its partner's chest just before Gang Orca slammed his fist there.
The energy of the blow hit the UA student, knocking the wind out of him, forcing Dark Shadow to shriek and slowly retreat inside Tokoyami, and sending them both flying backward violently.
A cold sweat trickled down the backs of those present as reality hit them in the face: Gang Orca was not going to go easy on them.
—Midoriya, lead the others and help defend against the operatives. I'll take care of the cetacean— Mei ordered, cracking her knuckles with a flirtatious smile that felt entirely out of place in the heat of battle.
—Mei, don't underestimate Gang Orca!— Midoriya startled. He already knew the girl was strong and very capable, but this Hero couldn't be compared to the other challenges she had faced.
Mei's eyelid twitched and she took a deep breath, helping Midoriya up before giving him a resounding slap on the backside that echoed through the area. Even Gang Orca looked in their direction while sending a sonic wave toward Inasa.
—Hnngh!!— Midoriya groaned, jumping up and covering his rear with his hands, his eyes watering and his teeth clenched in agony. —W-Why!?— he shrieked, confused and in pain.
—Go and help the others, damn it!— she scolded. —Here, you'll all just be the Orca's punching bag. And besides, you might drown— she added in a lower tone.
Meanwhile, Gang Orca was pummeling a boy capable of shaking the earth and another with superhuman strength who tried to ram him. Suffice it to say, the kid was sent flying.
—Hmm, it's like hitting children— the Hero commented in a tone that wasn't very heroic.
—Sir, the team will move forward and harass the civilians!— one of his subordinates shouted as he passed the Hero with a group of armed men following him.
Gang Orca nodded and was about to say something when he was bombarded by another volley of water bullets. But this time, the attack wasn't aimed at him—it was aimed at his subordinates.
—Don't you see that your biggest problem is me!?— the Hero roared, tensing his muscles for a full-power charge. He hoped the Terumi girl could dodge him, or Gang Orca would give a piece of his mind to every HPSC examiner for urging him to act this way.
In his field of vision, Mei Terumi brought her hands together, moving and twisting them in strange patterns—a heavy, peculiar sensation enveloping the Hero with every gesture she traced.
A massive wave surged forth, erupting both from her hands and from some mysterious point behind her.