MHA; Shikamaru With A System!

**Chapter 10: The Zero-Point Gambit**

The moment the gates to Battle Center C swung open, chaos erupted. The examinees surged forward like a tidal wave, their footsteps pounding against the asphalt, their quirks flaring to life in a dazzling display of power. Shikamaru Nara, though not one for unnecessary exertion, found himself swept up in the momentum. He sprinted alongside the others, his mind racing as he calculated every step. *Ten minutes. Every second counts.*

The cityscape of Battle Center C was a sprawling, lifeless replica of an urban environment. Crumbling buildings lined the streets, their windows shattered and walls scarred. Abandoned cars and debris littered the roads, creating obstacles that forced the examinees to weave and dodge as they ran. The air was thick with the smell of concrete dust and the faint tang of ozone, a testament to the artificial nature of the arena.

Shikamaru's dark eyes scanned the surroundings as he ran. *They really went all out with this setup. The amount of money they must've spent… But it's perfect for training modern heroes.*

The first robots appeared almost immediately. A three-pointer, towering and menacing, rounded a corner and blocked Shikamaru's path. Its metallic frame gleamed under the artificial sunlight, its red eyes locking onto him with predatory precision. Shikamaru's hands instinctively moved to form a shadow-binding seal, but before he could act—

**FWOOSH!**

Tenya Iida shot past like a blur, his engine-like calves roaring as he delivered a powerful kick to the robot's head. The three-pointer crumpled under the force, its body slamming into a nearby wall and exploding in a shower of sparks.

Iida skidded to a stop, adjusting his glasses with a confident smirk. "My apologies, but this is a competition, after all!"

Before Shikamaru could respond, Iida was already gone, his engines propelling him toward another target. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, but he didn't have time to dwell on the interruption. A flash of light caught his attention, and he turned to see Yuga Aoyama, the sparkling hero, unleashing a dazzling beam from his navel. The beam sliced through three robots in a single, elegant arc, reducing them to scrap metal.

"Oui, oui! I am the elegant and powerful!" Aoyama declared, striking a dramatic pose. His cape fluttered in the wind as he glanced at Shikamaru, his eyes sparkling with pride.

Shikamaru sighed. *Troublesome…*

But the real spectacle was yet to come. A cluster of robots suddenly floated into the air, their metallic bodies twisting and contorting as if caught in an invisible force. Shikamaru's eyes widened as he followed the trajectory of the robots to their source: Ochaco Uraraka. Her brown hair framed her determined face as she pressed her fingertips together, releasing the robots from her quirk's grip. They plummeted to the ground, exploding on impact.

"Release!" she shouted, her voice firm despite the strain on her face.

Shikamaru couldn't help but be impressed. *Of course. Everyone here has spent their lives dreaming of becoming heroes. They've trained, fought, and sacrificed for this moment. And then there's me…*

His thoughts were interrupted by a panicked cry. His gaze shifted to a boy crawling on the ground, his green hair disheveled and his wide, fearful eyes darting around. Izuku Midoriya.

Shikamaru approached him, his tone calm but firm. "Isn't time running out? If you don't act, you'll fail."

Midoriya looked up, his face pale. "I-I don't know why, but I'm paralyzed with fear. I don't want to fail, but my body won't move!"

Before Shikamaru could respond, Eijiro Kirishima appeared, his spiky red hair and sharp teeth giving him a wild appearance. "Hey, get up and follow me! If we take down a zero-pointer, we might both pass! One robot could be enough!"

Midoriya blinked in confusion. "But… it's worth zero points. What's the point?"

Shikamaru cut in, his voice steady. "That's the whole point of the test. Just follow me and do as I say."

Midoriya hesitated but nodded, scrambling to his feet. "O-okay!"

What followed was a scene straight out of an action movie. Shikamaru and Midoriya sprinted through the battlefield, their footsteps echoing against the cracked pavement. Explosions rocked the ground as robots clashed with examinees, their metallic limbs flailing wildly. A car erupted in flames, sending a shockwave that nearly knocked them off their feet. Shikamaru ducked under a falling piece of debris, his shadow flickering as he narrowly avoided a collision.

Midoriya struggled to keep up, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "W-where are we going?!"

"Just trust me!" Shikamaru shouted over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the horizon.

The cameras in the control room captured every moment, the pro heroes watching with keen interest. Principal Nezu, the small, mouse-like creature with a sharp mind, leaned forward in his chair. "This year's examinees are quite promising," he remarked, his voice calm but intrigued. "But the real test is about to begin."

He pressed a red button, and a low rumble echoed through the arena.

Shikamaru and Midoriya rounded a corner, skidding to a halt as they entered a wide street. Towering above them was the zero-pointer, a colossal robot that dwarfed even the tallest buildings. Its massive frame was covered in reinforced armor, and its glowing red eyes flickered to life as it activated.

Midoriya's jaw dropped. "T-that's the zero-pointer?!"

Shikamaru wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Isn't its size a bit… excessive?"

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