…
Deep within the dim, foul-smelling sewer, the sludge slowly gathered, its viscous body reforming into a humanoid shape. Compared to before, however, it had shrunk by nearly a third.
"Damn that brat… I was actually defeated by someone who isn't even a Pro Hero…"
The sludge's voice trembled with weakness—and a lingering trace of fear.
He had believed he could seize Shina Etsuha's body without issue. But he never expected the boy's strength to surpass his imagination. Even on the verge of exhaustion, Shina Etsuha had still overwhelmed him with precise, lethal swordsmanship.
"If it weren't for his Quirk completely countering mine…"
The sludge's thoughts turned bitter.
Ice was the worst possible opponent for him. If Shina Etsuha had relied purely on physical attacks, the sludge could have ignored them entirely—his body could split and recombine endlessly, just as he had claimed.
But that wasn't what happened.
Thinking back carefully, he realized the truth: every time the blade struck, frost spread from the ice sword into his body, freezing him from within. It had all happened so quickly that he hadn't even noticed—mistaking it instead for exhaustion on Shina Etsuha's part.
"How can someone like that even exist…? A Quirk that strong, combined with swordsmanship that should take decades to master… No—decades wouldn't even be enough without genius talent. What is that kid… a monster?"
Even now, he couldn't accept it.
Losing to a Pro Hero would have been understandable—but a middle schooler?
Since when were middle school students this terrifying?
"…And I've lost most of my body. I need a new host—fast."
A faint glimmer of light filtered down from above. The sludge recognized it instantly—the exit.
He had no choice now. If he wanted to survive, he would have to take a risk and possess someone.
Gurgle…
An eye formed within the sewer grate, peering upward. Almost immediately, the sludge spotted a figure standing above.
Strange. The man's body looked abnormal—arms layered over arms, unnatural and unsettling.
But to the sludge, that didn't matter.
"This one… will do perfectly!"
Without hesitation, his body surged upward, spreading into a sticky net that lunged toward the man.
Just as he was about to make contact—
BANG!!
A black arm slammed into him from the side.
The impact was overwhelming.
Even the force of the wind alone felt like it would tear his entire body apart. His form was sent flying, smashing hard into the wall like discarded gum.
His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the figure before him.
"You… are…?!"
That overwhelming presence—
It was on the same level as All Might.
How could something like this exist here?
Fear surged through him. For the first time, escape felt impossible.
"…Huh? Is something like this really usable?"
A young man, his body covered in disembodied hands, looked down at the sludge with mild curiosity.
It was Shigaraki Tomura.
"His Quirk is quite unique. It may be able to withstand that kind of transformation," came a calm voice from beside him.
A figure cloaked in mist—Kurogiri.
"…Then I guess we'll give it a try," Shigaraki muttered, scratching his neck absentmindedly. "It's just an experiment from Sensei anyway. No guarantee it'll work."
He kicked the sludge casually.
"Hey. You're not dead yet, right?"
"Who… are you?" the sludge asked cautiously.
His instincts screamed danger—but when he caught sight of the monstrous figure standing behind them—Nomu—all thoughts of resistance vanished.
Against absolute power, tricks meant nothing.
"Don't worry about that," Shigaraki said with a crooked grin. "We can make you stronger."
"…Stronger?"
"By giving you a second Quirk."
"What?!"
The sludge's voice spiked instantly.
Granting Quirks to others…?
His mind raced. The grotesque creature behind them—Nomu—suddenly made sense.
Was it the result of this same process?
Were they planning to turn him into something like that?
As if reading his thoughts, Kurogiri spoke calmly:
"Don't worry. You won't become something like Nomu. Your treatment will be… better. You'll become something like me."
"…You?"
"Yes. Originally, my ability was limited—I could only transform my body into mist. Nothing more."
Kurogiri gestured slightly.
"But after undergoing the experiment, I gained a second Quirk. Now, I can open portals anywhere."
Of course, it was a lie.
Kurogiri had never personally experienced such an experiment. But according to "the Doctor," subjects with less resistance had a higher chance of success. Convincing the sludge willingly was far easier than forcing him.
"…I see…"
The sludge hesitated.
"Of course, you can refuse," Kurogiri added, calmly pointing toward Nomu. "But the alternative… is becoming that."
The meaning was clear.
Accept—and evolve.
Refuse—and be turned into a mindless weapon.
"…"
Silence fell.