Izuku stood at the back of the crowd. He was tempted to win the race by just letting Igris get to the end and Exchanging with him, but that would just be unfair.

  *New Quest: The Festival*

  *You are competing in the sports festival. Depending on how you place in each event, and how you place overall, you will be rewarded.*

  The sports festival was made up of 3 events. The first was a race around the perimeter, dodging obstacles. Izuku estimated that about 40-50 of the first people to cross the finish line would continue to the second event.

  "Begin!!" Midnight announced.

  "Quicksilver"

  Izuku shot off like a bullet, running along the wall of the tunnel as everyone else below was frozen to the floor by Todoroki.

  Izuku landed outside the tunnel and kept running.

  "It looks like Izuku Midoriya has reached the first obstacle!!!" Present Mic said.

  Izuku dodged the massive robot fist aimed at him, looking up at the 6 zero pointers.

  "Marshal Igris, carve me a way through."

  The only thing the audience saw was a black flash, and the two Zero pointers blocking Izuku's way were reduced to lots of big metal blocks.

  "Quicksilver"

  "Looks like Shoto Todoroki has reached the Robo Inferno!! And Izuku Midoriya has reached the second obstacle, the Fall! Katsuki Bakugo is right on Todoroki's tail.."

  Izuku rolled his eyes, leaping over the pit in a single bound.

  "If you're going to make obstacles, make them actually get in the way."

  "M-midoriya has cleared the Fall already?? When did that happen??" Present Mic asked.

  "He just jumped over it. You should keep your eye on him." Aizawa said.

  "Midoriya has reached the final obstacle, the minefield!!" Present Mic yelled. "This should slow him down!"

  Izuku took two steps back.

  "Quicksilver."

  Izuku sent out all of his senses, reaching out to the minefield.

  He ran across the minefield, stepping perfectly between the mines and clearing the field in less than a second.

  "I-Izuku Midoriya has won the Obstacle race... Meanwhile, Shoto Todoroki has just reached the Fall!!"

  Izuku walked over to Midnight's podium, sitting down with his back against it.

  *Mana: 34,576/ 34,580*

  Midnight put her finger to her ear, listening to something.

  Just as she did, a blue portal opened up against the wall of the centre arena.

  *Alert: gate nearby. All quests are suspended until rogue gate has been cleared. You will be compensated.*

  Izuku stared at it, then sighed.

  "Midnight. Tell Nezu I've got it. I'll be back in about an hour, at most."

  The crowd was murmuring, wondering if this was part of the festival.

  "How did you know I was talking to Nezu?"

  "Just guessed. He would have detected the energy signature before the gate opened. I can sense it without machinery though."

  Izuku stood, dusting himself off.

  "Please do not worry about the gate, it will be explained at the next Heroics Information exchange, in the meantime Midoriya will take care of it!"

  "It looks about an A rank, I'll be fine on my own. Let Nezu know though."

  Midnight nodded, talking into her earpiece.

  Izuku stepped into the portal, letting his armour cover him, calling out his shadows.

  "You know the drill. Elite Knights and Commanders, take your squads and head out. Marshal Igris, set up a command centre. This is an A rank, but don't let your guard down. There could still be a few nasty surprises."

  The soldiers nodded, bowing to their king.

  "Izuku Midoriya will be unavailable due to the Gate, so he will be an extra competitor in the final event!" Midnight announced.

  Everyone in 1A nodded in understanding, while everyone else looked confused.

  Izuku listened as Igris gave his report.

  "We have located the boss, it appears to be a wyvern. I have once again collected many draconic scales and teeth. Most of the dragons in this dungeon were far weaker than even the basic infantry, but there are a few we have dragged to you."

  Izuku nodded.

  "Good job Igris. Now, Arise."

  Izuku stepped back out of the Gate, his armour invisible once more.

  Midnight was stood beside the gate, turning to him when it snapped shut.

  "Any problems?" She asked.

  Izuku shook his head.

  "Basic A rank gate. I did get an S class wyvern though.

  Midnight nodded, speaking into her earpiece.

  "You've missed a few matches, but your first is against Shinsou after Todoroki Vs Sero."

  Izuku nodded, walking to the waiting rooms.

  *Rogue Gate cleared. Quests will resume.*

  "For the next match, we have the almost zombie- like Hitoshi Shinsou versus the shadow lord himself, Izuku Midoriya!!"

  Izuku sighed, stepping into the ring.

  "You know, your crown has become more.. pronounced. It's darker, and the spikes look a little longer..." Midnight commented.

  Izuku sighed again.

  "Are you both ready?" Midnight asked.

  Both boys nodded.

  "Begin!!"

  "You must think so highly of yourself, wearing a crown like that. What exactly are you the king of? Arrogance?" Shinsou asked.

  Izuku held his soldiers back.

  "Shadows. And no, I don't think that highly of myself. I physically can't do anything bout the crown, trust me, I've tried."

  *Brainwashing has been nullified due to the Crown of the Monarch*

  "Oh, brainwashing, I see." Izuku said.

  Shinsou jerked backwards.

  "How?? How are you not under my control?" He asked desperately.

  "The crown. It nullifies all mental attacks." Izuku said.

  *Brainwashing has been nullified due to the Crown of the Monarch*

  "Quicksilver."

  Izuku blurred forwards, launching the purplette out of bounds.

  "You could do a lot of good with your quirk you know, so keep trying for the hero course!"

  "Midoriya wins!!" Midnight announced.

  Izuku turned and left the arena.

  The greenette watched all of the next matches.

  Bakugo won against Kirishima. Tokoyami beat Yayorozu. Iida won against Shiozaki. Now it was Izuku's second match.

  "And now, it's the fight you've all been waiting for, a battle between two powerhouses, the Lord of Shadows, and the Icy King!! Are you ready?!??"

  Todoroki stared Izuku down.

  "Begin!" Midnight yelled.

  Todoroki sent a long burst of fire at Izuku, making him grin.

  Izuku had sent Todoroki and Tsu into a B rank gate. The inside of the gate was a land of ice and snow. Todoroki's ice was useless, and Tsu was helpless without warmth.

  Todoroki eventually caved, realising the lesson Izuku was teaching him. Once he started using his fire the enemies fell like dominoes, and Tsu was able to help out because of his flames.

  Izuku just stood within the flames, while Todoroki turned them off, shocked that Izuku didn't dodge.

  *You have Leveled up!*

  *You have Leveled up!*

  *Shadow Monarch's Armour has leveled up!*

  *Crown of the Monarch has leveled up!*

  *Crown of the Monarch has leveled up!*

  Todoroki's flames dispersed, and Izuku absorbed the smoke into his crown.

  "That won't work on me peppermint."

  The dual haired teen scowled, sending a superheated burst of fire at Izuku.

  Izuku's crown only darkened, the edges hardening.

  Todoroki tried ice, but Izuku punched it into tiny shards.

  Todoroki sighed, knowing he was beaten.

  "My flames only make you stronger.. and my ice is like glass to you. I can't win."

  Izuku nodded.

  "I've been in places far hotter and far colder than your ice and fire. Sorry Todoroki, it's a bad matchup."

  The fight only lasted another second.

  "Quicksilver."

  Todoroki was placed gently out of bounds.

  "Midoriya wins the battle! He moves on to the next round!" Midnight said.

  Izuku faced off against Iida next.

  The greenette stepped to the side, tripping up the taller teen and sending him flying.

  "Iida is out of bounds! Midoriya moves on to the finals!!"

  Izuku helped the bespectacled teen up.

  "Sorry Iida, that was a nasty trick."

  The class president laughed, rubbing his nose.

  "Don't worry about it Midoriya, I'm just glad it wasn't more undignified. Like not even taking a step."

  It was now the final round.

  "It is now the final round of the Sports Festival!!! On one side we have the king of explosions himself, the explosive Katsuki Bakugo!!! On the other side, we have the undefeated Monarch of Shadows, Izuku Midoriya!!" Present Mic yelled.

  "Begin!" Midnight announced.

  Izuku raised a single hand, a purple glow around it. Bakugo was launched out of the arena and slammed into the wall of the stadium, sending spiderweb cracks along the concrete. Izuku then just dropped him.

  "M-Midoriya wins the sports festival with an incredible show of strength!!!" Present Mic yells.

  Izuku turns and leaves the arena, heading up to the 1A seating area.

  "Very well done my Lord, I couldn't have put that brat into his place better myself." Igris congratulated.

  Izuku could feel his soldiers cheering from his shadow.

  "Thanks Igris. That was surprisingly fun."