15 minutes to go…
Luke looked toward the holographic screen, which showed the number of students remaining in the game as only 14.
Four of which were right here!
"We said…" a chilly voice penetrated his ears, making him look down. "… take those off."
Between the loud explosions, at the central region of the city, and Luke stood three figures.
In the middle was Ibara Shiozaki from Class 2-B, wearing a plain, white robe over long boots.
She had the Vines Quirk, Luke remembered, a particularly strong one of its kind. She could freely lengthen and manipulate her vine-like, green hair. Not only were these vines thorny, but they were also extremely strong, capable of bending steel and blasting right through concrete.
To her right, perched on a frozen car, was Togaru Kamakiri, donning a green robe.
He looked like a praying mantis, even having green skin. He had the Razor Sharp Quirk that allowed him to produce large blades from any part of his body. The blades were already scary, but he himself was nimble and fast, having the physical capabilities similar to a mantis as well.
Then there was Sen Kaibara to Ibara's left, wearing a white windbreaker and sweatpants.
His Quirk was the most interesting of the bunch, Luke remembered studying.
Using Gyrate, Sen could make any part of his body rotate as fast as a drill. Such a drill was already enough to make him proficient in close combat. But Sen combined it with Drill Gloves — a pair of spiral-patterned gloves that covered only his fingers. Because of the toughness of the gloves' material, he could truly injure his opponents, making it impossible to defend against his attacks.
And, presently, all three were eyeing Luke.
Or, well, they were eyeing the student who looked exactly like Juzo Honenuki from Class 2-B, wearing his orange and black armor.
Not only that, as if this student had decided to troll the entire Class 2-B even more, he also had Hiryu Rin's Scale Gauntlet on his left hand.
That… didn't sit right with either Ibara, Togaru, or Sen.
It ticked them off enough for them to confront Luke, instead of rushing toward the central region, ignoring the massive laser boundaries that were pulsating to jump forward by another hundred meters any second.
"I said…" Ibara put her hands together, as if praying, making her hair flail without wind. "… take off… that armor."
At this moment, Luke wasn't sure if these three would have changed their decision knowing that it was he behind the helmet.
Regardless of that, he had no intention of letting go of such good armor.
His Hero Costume, Black, could take on multiple attacks, especially the thrusts and cuts from knives, swords, and bullets. However, when it came to blunt force, it really didn't do much. That was the price he had willingly paid with Sand's guidance as per his fighting style.
In the Battle Royale, though, it wouldn't be enough.
Ignoring the squirming of Ibara's vine-like hair, Luke suddenly pointed at her, making the girl frown.
"Aren't you…" He said, amusingly, "… cold?"
"…"
Ibara ground her teeth, hiding her shivering by pressing her hands tighter against each other.
As if that was the cue, all her hair lifted and shot toward Luke, a few of them outright tearing through the layer of ice on the ground.
From her left, a buzz resounded as Sen traced an arc toward Luke, his arms rotating so fast that only a blur was visible in their place.
But, faster than Sen's charge, and even faster than Ibara's vines, was Togaru. The car he was standing on lifted on its side wheels as he shot toward Luke, two massive blades coming out from his hands near the elbow.
Air split apart as Togaru attacked, his blade slicing right across Luke's chest armor.
But, despite all that speed, Togaru missed, his dark green eyes widening in shock and losing their luster, matching the pale green hue of his skin.
With a tink, Togaru's blade landed on the ground and got stuck in the concrete.
"Clench your teeth…"
Before Togaru could even make sense of what was happening and what those words meant, Luke kicked as fast as he could, his boot landing on the blade where it had come out of the boy's arm.
Crack!
Togaru's scream echoed far and wide, becoming one with the icy chill.
As he rolled away, squirming in pain, holding his hand, he left behind a stream of blood that led to his broken, vibrating blade.
Ibara and Sen's faces instantly gained a reddish tinge, a hotness surging into their heads, driving the cold away.
"Oh, lord…" Ibara prayed, her eyes spewing hate. "Have mercy on his soul…"
Crack-Boooooooom!!!
The entire gap between two blocks of buildings on either side of a wide road became green.
Vines were everywhere, slithering like headless snakes, entrapping everything within them.
Together with Sen, whom the vines seemed to ignore, giving him enough space to move around, they charged toward and around Luke, blocking all his means of escape.
To Ibara and Sen's utter surprise, though, Luke… bolted straight forward, two knives appearing in his hands.
Vines pounded upon him from everywhere at once.
Luke's hands blurred, cutting through the vines like butter.
He flipped midair, two sets of vines thrusting up and down, missing him.
Then, just before he could land, his eyes rested on the dark gap in the wall of the vines behind which Ibara was hiding.
Luke's entire left arm bulged, veins slithering, popping out of his skin like red-blue vines.
Then, aiming, he threw the knife like a bullet, sending it right into the dark gap.
A bloody squelch rang from the other side, followed by Ibara's gasp.
Slowly, all the vines fell, losing life and revealing the girl.
Ibara was holding her stomach, where the knife was plunged deep, blood staining her pristine, priestly robe.
A BUZZ resounded from behind.
Luke stepped to his side as if he had eyes on the back of his head, Sen's drill-like right hand missing him completely.
Then, Luke punched with his left hand…
Click!
… activating Scale Gauntlet right against Sen's wide-open chest!