"Phew… that settles it."
Shina Etsuha let out a quiet breath once everything was over. At the same time, a flicker of surprise crossed his mind. This was the first time he had used his healing ability in front of so many people—and in just that brief moment, he could clearly feel a change in the "energy" within his Quirk.
The growth felt faster than before.
If this continued at the same pace, he might soon be able to draw out an even more powerful ability.
"At this rate… it won't be long before my energy surpasses what I had when I extracted the Teigu," Etsuha thought to himself, slightly astonished. "That was popularity I built up over several years…"
His rapid rise had begun with the popularity of Akame ga Kill!—the series that had first awakened his ability to extract power. To build that popularity, Etsuha had gone to extreme lengths, even deliberately leaving the story on cliffhangers multiple times. It had earned him plenty of criticism—but also steadily growing attention.
And attention… meant energy.
Because of his Quirk, Etsuha could vaguely sense the amount of "energy" he possessed, allowing him to judge his own progress. This energy was a fundamental part of his strength. Even without actively using it to extract abilities, it continuously reinforced his body—though only to a limited extent. It couldn't push him past certain physical thresholds, let alone bring him to the level of All Might.
Still, this passive strengthening required no energy consumption at all.
Even if stored for decades, it would remain intact.
That alone made Etsuha's Quirk almost incomprehensible.
On top of that, his work on Akame ga Kill! had spanned nearly two years. That long-term accumulation had allowed his energy reserves to reach a staggering level—enough to extract Esdeath's Teigu.
Now, the current rate of growth was approaching the peak popularity period of the manga.
If he actively promoted his healing ability…
that growth rate could become even more terrifying.
"It looks like I made the right choice today," Etsuha thought, clenching his fists slightly. "There's no point in hiding anymore. Even if I conceal my Quirk, I'll eventually have to face the League of Villains. In that case… I might as well step into the spotlight."
The risk had increased dramatically—but so had the rewards.
Right now, he was balancing on the edge of a blade.
But that wasn't a bad thing.
The League of Villains had no way of understanding the true nature of his Quirk. The more attention he gained, the stronger he would become. Attacks like this wouldn't happen often—and soon enough, the name Shina Etsuha would spread far and wide.
Around him, the crowd gradually dispersed under police guidance. Pro Heroes helped clean up the aftermath, clearing debris and restoring order.
Before long, Etsuha was pulled aside by a staff member with a dog's head—clearly there to lecture him.
Just as he had expected.
The scolding focused mostly on his use of his Quirk in a public space. However, since he had defeated a villain, saved two civilians, and treated Bakugo, his actions earned him considerable merit as well.
As a result, Mt. Lady's agency received a substantial bonus.
She was overjoyed—and promptly dragged Etsuha along for a few days of celebration.
Not long after, news of Etsuha defeating Death Arm once again and rescuing two students began spreading at an incredible speed. This time, it wasn't just newspapers—local news stations picked up the story as well.
His popularity surged once more.
Soon after, Etsuha conducted another self-assessment.
Even without using his Quirk, his physical abilities had improved drastically. At full speed, he could now run 100 meters in just five seconds—comparable to a cheetah. His endurance had also increased to the point where he could run for tens of kilometers without stopping.
And that was purely physical enhancement.
Even the Teigu he wielded had grown stronger.
Etsuha could clearly feel that the energy consumption and stamina required to use it had decreased significantly. All of this was a natural result of the vast amount of energy he had accumulated.
Though the improvement wasn't overwhelming, it was steady—and well worth it.
"A shame this place is too small to fully test my Teigu," Etsuha muttered with a sigh.
He had wanted to summon the Ice Cavalry—but the location simply wasn't suitable. Using such a large-scale ability recklessly would attract too much attention.
The place he was in now was a seaside scrapyard. Hardly anyone came here, making it a decent spot for occasional training.
Just as he was about to leave—
two familiar figures approached.
"It won't be long before the U.A. entrance exam. If you want to become a Hero, you'll need to train harder."
"Yes, sir!"
One voice deep and steady. The other, earnest and determined.
They belonged to All Might and Izuku Midoriya.