After a brief interlude, you and Midoriya returned to the field, where a new challenge awaited: the cavalry battle. The students who had qualified in the preceding trials now faced the task of forming teams of two to four individuals, each member's point value determined by their placement in the obstacle race. In this high-stakes endeavor, the point value of my chosen companion was astronomically set at ten million. Such a staggering figure symbolized the arduous struggle of reigning at the pinnacle, while simultaneously contending with the entirety of one's rivals beneath.

I could not help but feel a pang of empathy for Midoriya; with a point value so high, he stood as an irresistible target, and no one wished to ally with him for fear of being besieged by the rest of the competitors. With a reassuring touch, I placed my hand upon his shoulder. The poor boy startled, but soon relaxed, recognizing the familiar warmth emanating from me, understanding that it was indeed myself who stood beside him.

Soon, we were joined by Uraraka and Tokoyami, two steadfast companions of considerable skill, well-suited for this phase of the trials. Expressing my welcome to them, I could see the faint blush of their cheeks rising—not needing to gaze directly to perceive the fragrance of their burgeoning embarrassment, uncertainty, or whatever emotion gripped them in that moment.

The grounds upon which we stood seemed almost to tremble with the anticipation of the task ahead, each participant like a warrior from ages past, poised and ready to clash with destiny itself. The weight of conspiratorial whispers hung in the air, thick like the mists over ancient battlements. As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, our resolve stood resilient. We would face the storm together, harbingers of a tale yet to be told, etched into the annals of a world eternally on the brink of legend.

Soon enough, the game commenced in earnest, and we were promptly set upon by Team Tetsutetsu, led by the formidable Juzo Honenuki whose Quirk granted him dominion over the very earth beneath our feet. With a guttural growl rumbling from deep within, I felt my form begin to expand, allowing the transformation to take hold. In a matter of moments, my eyes flared with a fierce light as I glared in the direction of the silver-haired team's encroachment. A roar erupted from my throat, so thunderous that every window within the vicinity shattered into countless shards, cascading down like fragments of the shattered serenity.

Izuku and our teammates could only watch in paralyzed fear, their senses overwhelmed by the reverberating sound. I lowered myself to the ground, supporting my weight on my haunches, to allow them to climb atop my formidable frame.

"Is that allowed?!" exclaimed a voice from the stadium, rife with incredulity. The enigmatic Midnight responded with a thoughtful hum, "Yes, as long as the riders do not touch the ground, anyone can serve as the horse, regardless of their Quirk or...".

I turned my menacing gaze towards her, a plume of steam escaping my nostrils in defiance.

"A...a--it's...it's allowed!" she burst out, her composed demeanor finally slipping.

I sniffed the air and rose again, my irises glowing a malevolent yellow as my dorsal spines rippled in concert with the movement of my powerful muscles. The keen eyes of the professional heroes were undoubtedly upon me, yet I paid little heed to the burning glare of Endeavor or the weary yet watchful gaze of All Might.

With each step I took, the ground dented beneath my tremendous weight.

"That shouldn't—" Bakugo's sarcastic remark was abruptly cut off as a swift swipe from my tail nearly decapitated him, causing his team to scramble and collapse in chaos around him as he narrowly ducked.

"Hey, you lying bastard!" he shouted, waving a fist charged with explosive energy in the air. The very atmosphere sizzled with intensity from the popping explosions emanating from his palm. "You think you're so strong? Well, I'll show you! I will not fall beneath you again!"

With that, he launched himself toward me, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. I turned toward him slowly, a look of bored derision etched upon my gray snout, my gaze unwavering and unimpressed by his brazen challenge.

The arena around us stood in hushed anticipation, every observer aware that this clash was but a prelude to a greater conflict, echoing the ancient tales of titanic struggles etched into the history of valiant deeds and unyielding wills.

Without much thought, my jaws snapped open, releasing a pulsating blue glow. Bakugo yelped in surprise, "Huh!?" He blasted himself out of the beam of pure energy that erupted from my breath. I did not aim to dismantle the stadium or reduce the city to ruins with an atomic blast, at least not today. However, the beam struck the side of the structure, causing the entire arena to tremble, sending some professional heroes to their knees.

I lowered my head while Izuku and the others managed to seize some headbands from the stunned participants. I sniffed at Bakugo, who groaned, likely having hit his head, yet he emerged, unyielding and glaring with those fiery red eyes of his.

"You are to be better than this, my heart," I rumbled, my snout quivering as I tugged on his hair with a powerful draught from my nostrils. Defiant as ever, he muttered, "I refuse to yield to a monster," not truly grasping the gravity of his words.

My eyes flashed with a predatory gleam, and I snapped my teeth inches from his face, sending him scrambling backward, fear plain in his eyes for the first time. "Stay with your team," I hissed, rising to my full height. Midoriya clung precariously to my side, nearly slipping off my hip. As I turned, my tail lashed softly.

"Did you get all the bands you could?" I inquired.

Tokoyami nodded, Dark Shadow at his side holding a band in its beak. I acknowledged them with a short nod, turning my gaze towards Midnight who swallowed hard.

"Y-yeah, Team Midoriya wins," she announced, her voice barely concealing her awe and trepidation at the sight of our newly-earned victory.