This chunk of sludge, frozen solid by ice, was now completely cut off from the main body. At a glance, it looked no different from ordinary mud. But in reality, it was still extremely valuable. For example, handing it over to a Hero agency could easily earn a generous reward.
And if news spread that Shina Etsuha had defeated the sludge villain, it would create a significant surge in his reputation. After all, the law wasn't entirely rigid. While it prohibited using Quirks in public without a Hero license, there were exceptions—such as self-defense. Etsuha's situation clearly fell under that category, meaning the media could legally report it.
In other words, this "sludge" was practically fame in solid form.
Just as Etsuha was collecting the frozen chunks, a long leg suddenly stepped down beside him with a heavy thud, shaking the ground like something out of a giant's landing.
It was a beautifully toned leg, wrapped in a sleek bodysuit that emphasized its shape—if one ignored the sheer scale, comparable to a towering giant.
"Etsuha, are you alright?! Where's the villain?!"
A familiar female voice called down anxiously.
Without even looking, Etsuha knew exactly who it was—his sister, Mt. Lady, also known as Yu Takeyama.
"I'm fine," Etsuha replied, slightly exasperated. "You're late. The villain already ran off—I drove him away."
He had called for backup earlier when facing Nomu, but even with Yu Takeyama's speed, she had still arrived too late.
"Hmph, ran away?" Yu Takeyama shrank back to her normal size, pouting in frustration. "My Quirk isn't suited for fighting in the city. If I go big, I'll block traffic everywhere. If that guy had been out in the open, I'd have crushed him—no question!"
Etsuha nodded. Her power was undeniable. The only drawback was the urban environment, which severely limited her ability to fight—especially in narrow streets where she couldn't even move properly. It was no wonder that in the future, her popularity would gradually fall behind heroes like Kamui Woods.
"Hey, what's that?" Yu Takeyama suddenly noticed the bottle in Etsuha's hand, filled with writhing green sludge, and stared in surprise.
"This? It's part of the villain who attacked me… I think they called him the sludge villain," Etsuha said casually, shaking the bottle. The contents bubbled and squirmed, as if still alive.
Yu Takeyama's expression changed instantly.
"…What did you just say his name was?"
"The sludge villain," Etsuha repeated.
"You mean—you fought the sludge villain, drove him off, and even captured part of his body?"
"…More or less."
Yu Takeyama fell silent.
That sludge villain… had been defeated by Etsuha?
Only now did she truly grasp how strong her brother had become.
"Etsuha… your Quirk has really awakened," she murmured, staring at him.
That was a villain even All Might had personally dealt with—and yet, part of his body was now stuffed into a soda bottle like some kind of bizarre souvenir. It was almost surreal.
Etsuha paused for a moment, then smiled lightly.
"Yeah."
He chose not to mention Nomu.
The main reason was simple—he didn't want to attract the attention of All For One just yet. Without the backing of All Might, even if Yu Takeyama and other heroes managed to investigate further, they would ultimately run into something far beyond their ability to handle.
After all, even Best Jeanist—currently ranked among the top heroes—wouldn't last long against someone like that.
This encounter with the League of Villains was only the beginning.
Once he entered U.A., crossing paths with them again would be inevitable.
A cold glint flickered in Etsuha's eyes.
Nomu wasn't unbeatable. After that clash, he had already begun forming countermeasures in his mind. The next time they met, the outcome might be very different.
The same applied to All For One.
Yes, his power and Quirk were terrifying—but in terms of potential, Etsuha believed he could surpass him. What he lacked now wasn't ability, but time.
As long as he had time, his strength would evolve exponentially.
Defeating All For One was only a matter of time.
"Fame…"
Etsuha's thoughts sharpened.
Aside from publishing manga, there was another way to rapidly build his reputation—just like pro heroes did.
Defeat villains.
Even without a Hero license, even before officially enrolling at U.A., he still had one major advantage—
His sister was a professional hero.
That alone granted him a certain level of freedom. He couldn't act completely without restrictions, but compared to others, he had far more leeway.
Before, he simply hadn't had the right opportunity.
But now…
With the emergence of the League of Villains—and the appearance of the sludge villain—
That opportunity had finally arrived.
..
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