What no one realized was that even All For One felt a surge of emotion when he saw that footage.
"What kind of ability is that? I've never seen anything like it…"
The boy before him had completely exceeded his expectations. That miraculous technique stirred a strong desire within him—an urge to claim it for himself.
If he could take that Quirk…
At that thought, All For One suddenly laughed.
"It seems we've found a promising seedling. Shigaraki, this may become your second true opponent."
"So strong?" Shigaraki Tomura sounded surprised. It wasn't often that his teacher praised someone so highly.
"To escape from Nomu at that age—it's practically a miracle. He's more than qualified to stand against you," All For One said with a faint smile. "But enough of that. You brought someone with you, didn't you?"
The sludge villain stiffened as the conversation shifted to him.
"Yes… but can this guy really handle it? He looked like he was about to faint when he saw Nomu," Shigaraki Tomura said dismissively.
"On the contrary," All For One replied smoothly. "The sludge Quirk is quite unique. Not only does it have a high probability of preserving consciousness during modification, but it can also be granted a second powerful Quirk. At that point, even ordinary Pro Heroes wouldn't stand a chance."
His words were filled with temptation.
"Kurogiri, send him in."
At once, Kurogiri opened a swirling portal.
"This way, Mr. Sludge."
The sludge villain hesitated. But when he glanced back and saw Nomu standing silently behind him, his resolve hardened.
If the alternative was death, he might as well gamble on this experiment.
"Ah… this test subject looks quite promising."
A new voice came from behind All For One.
A man stepped forward from the shadows—a doctor, wearing a lab coat, his face lined with stubble. Even in the dim light, his presence felt unsettling.
"Do your best to ensure this experiment succeeds," All For One said calmly. "I'll need him for something."
"You've taken an interest in that boy's Quirk, haven't you?" the doctor replied with a chuckle. "Well, I'm quite interested as well. I'll do my best to perfect this one."
"…Good."
That single word carried weight.
Now wasn't the time for All For One to act personally. Even though All Might had been weakened, his power was still something to be wary of. Until the right moment came, All For One would not risk exposing himself.
That was why he needed a "hand"—someone else to act in his place.
And the sludge villain's Quirk made him the perfect candidate.
…
Three days later.
The front pages of major newspapers were dominated by explosive headlines:
"Middle School Student Defeats Dangerous Criminal—Emerges Victorious!"
"Famous Young Manga Artist Overpowers the Sludge Villain!"
"Shocking! Notorious Criminal Driven Away by a Middle Schooler?!"
In an era where many people still relied on newspapers, such headlines spread rapidly. Readers were stunned—and once they realized the stories weren't exaggerated clickbait, but real events backed by photographic evidence, the entire city was thrown into a frenzy.
"Hey, did you hear? Mt. Lady's little brother is incredible now!"
"Who hasn't heard? Shina is a total genius."
"He's out there fighting villains in middle school—what were you doing back then? Go do your homework!"
Even those close to him were surprised.
"He's already reached this level…" someone murmured.
Meanwhile—
"Whoa…!"
Shina Etsuha, who had been quietly working on his manga, suddenly felt something change.
His eyes lit up.
A surge of energy flowed through his body, as if countless invisible currents were being absorbed into him. His entire body felt lighter—stronger.
This was the first time he had experienced such a sensation.
It was obvious why.
Thanks to the widespread news coverage, his name had spread throughout the city. Around Tanshoin Town, almost everyone who read the papers now knew the name Shina Etsuha.
"An unexpected bonus…"
Etsuha smiled faintly.
The popularity he had gained this time was immense. While it still couldn't compare to the energy he had accumulated during his first extraction of the Demon's Extract, it was more than enough to obtain another useful ability.
But he didn't act immediately.
He wanted more.
"If I gather just a bit more… I'll focus on improving my healing ability and Teigu for now."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
After all—
The League of Villains wasn't just Nomu.