Chapter 11.1- High Priest

By the time we had finished the very last of the tests, the sun had already begun to set. It hit me then that we’d spent the whole first day on this assessment. Physical tests of all sorts had taken their toll on all of us. We all stared at the empty screens with soulless, tired, anticipatory eyes. I included even myself in that count. I was tired. The Institute had prepared both Momo and I for hero work but not much focus had been placed on endurance over and above all other considerations, and that was quickly beginning to look like a terrible oversight that UA would be correcting.

“Over the past 10 tests, I have had the pleasure of watching each and every one of you bring your all and place it on the table. If this were a test of dedication and willpower, then I am proud to say you all would have passed. Sadly, that was not the point of the tests. The point was suitability. Through the last 10 activities, I’ve gotten to force you to display a small portion of the depth of physical ability required to succeed in this world of ours. For every hero, there are eight villains. And yet, it is the villains and not the heroes who cower in the darkness. That is because we are better. Better trained, better prepared, better equipped, and perhaps most importantly, just plainly better. A hero in the top 100 is worth a dozen villains on their lonesome. Those in the top 10 are worth hundreds. These are the kinds of heroes that UA strives to create. The outliers, not the baseline. That is why only the top 10 today will progress as students of Class 1A. For the rest of you, you have two options. Option 1, is to continue in the General Studies Track of UA. This means that you will receive a UA education, the best in the world, and the ability to challenge and compete for a spot on the Hero course during the Sports Festivals or other sanctioned events. Option 2 is to continue in the hero course in other universities across the country. The Principal will be more than willing to write you a recommendation to make this switch. UA is focused on producing the creme of the crop, but we do understand the necessity of lesser heroes to society” Aizawa’s voice remained flat and nearly toneless as he delivered the speech. A sign that it was one he’d given on more than one occasion.

The words hit each and every one of my classmates like a train. The challenge in them did not go unnoticed either. Aizawa had made mention of two options, but there was really only one option. Go to General Studies and prepare to fight to make your way back here. This was why UA was the best. This uber-competitive mindset. We’d competed on the very first day and now based on that the class was being cut in half. Half of the class would then be sent off to General Studies where they’d continue to train in the hopes of challenging those who remained in the hero course for their spots. No one would be able to sit easy in this world where everyone constantly sought to overcome each other and take their spot.