The stadium was loud in a way Ren had never experienced before.
It wasn't the chaotic noise of villains shouting, or alarms blaring, or the hollow echo of a prison corridor. This was different. This was layered—voices stacked on voices, excitement crashing into anticipation, fear tangled with awe. Tens of thousands of people, all focused on the same place.
On the arena.
On them.
Ren stood at the edge of the waiting tunnel, gym uniform clinging slightly to his skin from sweat he hadn't realized he was producing. He rolled his shoulders once, then again, grounding himself. The cursed energy inside him was calm—dense, steady, obedient. Two weeks of focused training had done their job.
No slashes against people unless absolutely necessary, Nezu's voice echoed in his head.
Elemental output visible. Controlled.
Ren exhaled slowly.
Across the tunnel, Bakugo cracked his neck like he was about to walk into a street brawl. Todoroki stood silent, eyes forward, unreadable. Midoriya muttered under his breath, fingers twitching. Everyone was tense in their own way.
Present Mic's voice boomed through the stadium.
"ALRIGHT, FOLKS! THE MAIN EVENT IS HERE! THE ONE-ON-ONE TOURNAMENT! SIXTEEN STUDENTS ENTER—ONLY ONE WALKS OUT ON TOP!"
The brackets flashed on the massive screens.
Ren's eyes flicked up.
Match 2: Ren vs Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
He blinked once.
"…Figures."
Match 1 — Bakugo Katsuki vs Shinso Hitoshi
Ren watched from the stands as the first match began.
Shinso stepped onto the arena with his usual lazy posture, eyes sharp beneath it all. Bakugo stalked forward like a predator barely restrained by the rules.
Mic shouted, "BEGIN!"
Shinso spoke immediately, voice carrying just enough.
"So you're really okay with being used by the system like this?"
Bakugo didn't even slow.
The crowd gasped as Bakugo detonated forward, explosions tearing up the ground. Shinso barely had time to register that his Quirk hadn't activated before Bakugo's palm slammed into the dirt at his feet—
—and the shockwave launched Shinso out of bounds.
Silence.
Then roaring applause.
"WINNER—BAKUGO KATSUKI!"
Ren exhaled slowly. Brutal. Efficient. No wasted movement.
Bakugo didn't look proud. He looked bored.
Match 2 — Ren vs Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu
The announcer barely finished calling their names before the crowd began buzzing again.
"OH! THIS IS A GOOD ONE! STEEL BODY VS—WELL—WE'RE STILL FIGURING THIS KID OUT!"
Ren stepped onto the arena floor, boots crunching against the packed dirt. Across from him, Tetsutetsu grinned wide, metal already creeping over his skin.
"Yo!" Tetsutetsu shouted. "You're the guy from the USJ, right? The scary one!"
Ren tilted his head slightly.
"…You're very loud."
"That means you're nervous!" Tetsutetsu laughed, slamming his fists together. "DON'T WORRY! I'LL GO EASY—"
Mic's voice cut in. "BEGIN!"
Tetsutetsu exploded forward immediately, metal foot gouging the ground as he charged. Ren's eyes sharpened.
Fast. Strong. Straightforward.
Ren reinforced his legs with cursed energy—ten percent—and sidestepped, the impact of Tetsutetsu's punch cracking the ground where Ren had been standing.
The crowd roared.
Ren countered instantly, wind pressure bursting from his palm. The compressed air struck Tetsutetsu square in the chest—
—and dispersed harmlessly.
Tetsutetsu laughed, skidding back only half a step. "THAT TICKLED!"
Ren frowned.
Physical force won't do it. Density too high.
Tetsutetsu swung again. Ren ducked, spun, and planted a kick into Tetsutetsu's ribs. The metal rang like a bell.
Pain jolted up Ren's leg.
Still hurts. Good.
He leapt back, widening the distance.
"HEY!" Tetsutetsu shouted. "RUNNING ALREADY?"
Ren raised one hand slowly.
The air around the arena shifted.
Wind gathered—not violently, not explosively—but deliberately. The dust at Ren's feet began to spiral, a visible vortex forming around his body.
The audience leaned forward.
"What's that?" someone whispered.
Ren thrust his palm forward.
The wind didn't strike Tetsutetsu head-on.
It wrapped around him.
The vortex slammed into Tetsutetsu from multiple angles, lifting him just enough to throw off his balance. Metal feet scraped helplessly against the ground.
"WOAH—!"
Ren moved.
In an instant, he was inside the vortex, cursed energy reinforcing his fists as he struck—precise, controlled blows aimed at joints, not plating. Knees. Ankles. Shoulders.
Tetsutetsu grunted, trying to swing, but every motion was slowed, redirected by the rotating air.
Steel body doesn't mean immovable, Ren thought. Mass still obeys physics.
Tetsutetsu roared and slammed his fists into the ground, shockwave disrupting the wind field. Ren was thrown back, landing on one knee.
Tetsutetsu charged again, dents now visible in his metal plating.
"THIS IS AWESOME!" Tetsutetsu shouted. "YOU'RE AWESOME!"
Ren stood, breathing steady.
"Thank you."
He raised both hands this time.
The air compressed sharply—then released downward.
Tetsutetsu was forced flat, pinned by pressure rather than impact. The metal creaked audibly.
Ren stepped forward, stopping just outside arm's reach.
"I can't cut you," Ren said calmly. "But I don't need to."
The pressure increased for half a second—
—and Tetsutetsu's arm gave out, elbow buckling as he slammed the ground.
The buzzer blared.
"WINNER—REN!"
The crowd erupted.
Tetsutetsu laughed even as the metal receded from his body. "MAN! THAT WAS GREAT! LET'S FIGHT AGAIN SOMETIME!"
Ren nodded once, offering a hand.
Tetsutetsu took it, grip still strong.
From the stands, several pro heroes leaned forward.
Nezu smiled.
Match 3 — Todoroki Shoto vs Sero Hanta
This fight was quick.
Sero fired tape immediately, trying to control space. Todoroki just froze everything
Sero was immobilized before he could adapt.
"WINNER—TODOROKI SHOTO!"
Todoroki looked almost disappointed.
Match 4 — Tokoyami Fumikage vs Ashido Mina
Ashido rushed in with acid feints, dancing unpredictably. Tokoyami held ground, Dark Shadow expanding cautiously.
When Mina overextended, Dark Shadow surged—controlled
Ashido was pushed out of bounds with a laugh and a thumbs-up.
"WINNER—TOKOYAMI FUMIKAGE!"
Match 5 — Midoriya Izuku vs Aoyama Yuga
Aoyama opened with a beam.
Midoriya dodged, closed distance, and used a single finger smash to the ground.
Aoyama was sent sliding out of bounds, sparkling dramatically.
Midoriya apologized profusely.
Match 6 — Yaoyorozu Momo vs Kaminari Denki
Denki fired indiscriminately.
Momo adapted instantly, deploying insulated equipment and a capture device.
Denki short-circuited himself.
"WINNER—YAOYOROZU MOMO!"
Match 7 — Iida Tenya vs Shoji Mezo
Shoji used reach and sensory advantage.
Iida used speed and precision.
And with enough damage and speed shoji was kicked out of bound . They bowed respectfully.
Match 8 — Kirishima Eijiro vs Uraraka Ochaco
Uraraka tried to control the battlefield.
Kirishima pushed through, hardened fists A well-timed rush ended the match.
"WINNER—KIRISHIMA EIJIRO!"