I stood on the highest step of the winner's podium when the legendary Symbol of Peace descended from above with a giant grin and a hearty laugh.
"HA-HA-HA! Outstanding work, young men! You have shown the world what the new generation of heroes is made of!" All Might boomed.
He first handed out the bronze medal along with a few words. Then he approached Bakugo, placing the silver medal around his neck despite his fierce growling.
Finally, he stepped up to me. In his hands, he held the gold medal of the U.A. Sports Festival, gleaming in the light of the setting sun. His smile briefly turned a bit serious as he looked into my eyes, sensing the remnants of the deep, elusive aura radiating from me.
"Young Darkness," All Might spoke in a deep voice, hanging the gold around my neck. "Your strength, control, and tactics throughout the entire festival were utterly phenomenal. You possess a power unlike anything I have ever seen in someone your age. But remember... with such immense power comes the responsibility to protect those who lack it."
"My power serves my own goals, All Might," I replied calmly and coldly. "But as long as I stand in this world, chaos has no place near me."
All Might gripped my shoulder firmly, paused for a moment, and then turned to face the crowd with a beaming smile: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! HERE IS THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S SPORTS FESTIVAL!"
The stadium exploded once more.
The next day at school, the atmosphere in the U.A. building was completely different. As I walked down the hallways, students from other classes turned their heads and whispered. Everyone had seen how I conquered not only the obstacle race and the Cavalry Battle, but also swept away Tokoyami and Bakugo in one-on-one combat.
When I opened the door to Class 1-A, silence fell over the room for a split second.
"Dude! That was insane!" Kaminari yelled, immediately rushing over to my desk. "Your fight with Bakugo destroyed half the wall! My whole family was staring at the TV with their mouths wide open!"
"That move with the Shadow Domain and that knight during the headbands... that was absolutely manly, Mephisto!" Kirishima joined in, nodding in admiration.
Bakugo sat at his desk, staring out the window with clenched teeth, small puffs of angry smoke rising from his palms. Todoroki glanced at me briefly from the back row, his eyes filled with deep respect and the realization that if he wanted to aim for the top, he still had hard work ahead with his newly embraced fire side.
Midoriya, whose hand was only in a light splint thanks to my earlier advice regarding power control, approached me with a notebook in hand. "Mephisto... your speed and the way you apply that aura... it's incredible. Thank you for everything you taught me before the festival."
"You were simply utilizing your potential, Izuku," I replied matter-of-factly.
Just then, the classroom door opened, and Aizawa walked in, completely wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
"Quiet down and take your seats," Aizawa said in his usual annoyed tone.
The class went dead silent in a second, everyone scrambling back to their spots.
"The Sports Festival is over. The world has seen your capabilities, and now comes one of the most crucial parts of your time at U.A.—draft offers for internships from professional hero agencies."
Aizawa pressed a button on the remote, and the board behind him lit up with a chart displaying the number of offers each student received.
The results were indisputable.
Glowing at the top of the list was my name: Mephisto Darkness – 4,120 offers.
In second place: Shoto Todoroki – 2,200 offers.
In third place: Katsuki Bakugo – 750 offers (his aggressive behavior on the podium had deterred most agencies).
Following them were Tokoyami, Iida, and the rest.
"Normally, offers are distributed more evenly," Aizawa continued. "But after the performance Mephisto put on, practically every top hero in the country showed interest in him."
Aizawa placed a stack of papers on his desk. "You have one week to choose an agency where you will spend your week-long internship. Choose wisely. Field experience will show you what it truly means to be a hero."
I sat at my desk, looking through the list of agencies. Inside my mind, Agron's dark laughter echoed:
"Hero agencies... Do you intend to play the obedient student under the supervision of some so-called Top Hero?"