Seeing the two of them together, Shina Etsuha couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.
"So they've already connected… Does that mean All Might has decided to train Midoriya to become a Hero?"
According to how things should unfold, after the sludge incident, All Might would begin to recognize Izuku Midoriya's potential—and eventually choose him as the successor to One For All. Only after inheriting that power would Midoriya truly begin his journey as a Hero.
The reason they were here at the beach was simple: special training for the U.A. entrance exam.
Right now, Midoriya's body was far too weak to withstand the immense power of One For All. Only through intense physical training could he hope to handle its overwhelming, destructive force.
"But early on, Midoriya suffers a lot from One For All…" Etsuha thought, resting his hand against his chin. "Especially since he can't control it. Even using a little bit of power can leave his body temporarily disabled."
Although Etsuha possessed healing abilities, that didn't mean he could instantly fix everything. Repairing deep, structural damage required the patient's own physical energy. If the injuries were too severe, the burden on the body would be immense.
Take Katsuki Bakugo, for example. After being treated by Etsuha earlier, his recovery was stable—but even now, his legs still felt weak when walking, let alone using his Quirk.
The advantage, however, was clear.
Etsuha's healing could repair deep-rooted damage—eliminating even long-term aftereffects.
And as he grew stronger, the cost of using this ability would continue to decrease. Eventually, it might even be viable in combat situations.
A balanced ability—with both strengths and limitations.
"Midoriya," All Might's voice rang out nearby, heavy with seriousness. "Your training from today onward is to clear this entire beach of trash. And you must do it within a set time."
He paused, clearly aware of how difficult this would be.
"This won't be easy. If you're careless, you'll fail. If you want to quit, now's your chance. Once you walk this path… there's no turning back."
"I won't quit!" Midoriya's voice was firm and unwavering.
Etsuha let out a quiet chuckle after overhearing their exchange.
"Those two really are fired up…"
He had no intention of listening any further.
In just a few days, U.A. would hold a special event for students who passed the recommendation exam. Before that, Shota Aizawa had already given him a heads-up—there might even be combat involved.
That alone was enough to get Etsuha excited.
He had never heard of recommended students being put through something like that before.
As he strolled away from the trash-filled beach—
a glint flashed in All Might's eyes.
"Shina Etsuha…?"
He had noticed Etsuha's presence long ago. But now that he had seen him up close again, his thoughts refused to settle.
"The Symbol of Peace…"
All Might glanced down at his own frail body—his once-mighty frame now reduced to little more than skin and bone. Despite his height, he looked like a skeleton, so thin it was almost unsettling.
"…How ironic."
He clenched his fists tightly, determination hardening in his gaze.
…
Inside a dimly lit bar, news of Etsuha's second victory over Death Arm spread quickly. As the report played over the radio, the atmosphere among the villains grew tense.
"So even that sludge wasn't enough?" Kurogiri spoke, his tone laced with disbelief.
The sludge's second ability had been incredibly troublesome—capable of adapting to and resisting various forms of attack, whether fire, ice, or wind. The more it was attacked, the stronger its resistance became.
If not for their leader's interest in Etsuha's ability, that sludge could have been a powerful asset in their future plans against U.A.
And yet—
it had been defeated. Again.
By that same boy.
Tomura Shigaraki stared at the broadcast, scratching his neck irritably.
"Trash… absolute trash. It had all that buildup and still couldn't level up. Worthless."
"Well… this might just be an accident," Kurogiri tried to reason. "After all, it had already taken a hit from All Might beforehand. Its strength could have been weakened. If we send something similar again—"
"That's enough."
A calm voice cut through the room.
All For One spoke, his tone composed but final.
"It's not time yet."
He continued evenly, "There are too many Heroes around the target. Acting now would expose us too easily. For now, we remain silent. We'll build our strength… and when the moment comes, we'll strike all at once."
"Yes," Kurogiri replied immediately, not daring to argue further.
"Speaking of which…" All For One added, as if recalling something. "There's an interesting individual you should keep an eye on. But do not interfere."
"…Someone?" Kurogiri asked.
"All Might's opposite," he said quietly.
"The Hero Killer."
..
Hey everyone!
Unlock up to 100 early-access chapters and explore exclusive stories.
patreon.com/Rawink00