Neither the principal nor Recovery Girl had expected Shina Etsuha's healing ability to be so powerful, and the realization left them silent for quite some time.
A few minutes later, Principal Nezu let out a soft sigh. "Even so, it's still too risky. We need to understand this child's abilities more thoroughly."
"Yes," the others agreed in unison.
It wasn't that they didn't trust Etsuha—it was simply that they hadn't yet reached the point where treatment was absolutely necessary. There was still time to evaluate his power carefully and avoid any irreversible consequences.
As they deliberated, two days passed in the blink of an eye.
All Might's treatment was postponed accordingly. Etsuha didn't mind much. For him, the most important thing about coming to U.A. was the freedom to use his abilities without restraint, allowing him to gain a clearer understanding of his own strength.
The first was his ultimate move, Moco Bo Temo. Unlike during his battle against Nomu, Etsuha could now release this technique once and still retain enough stamina for another round of combat. It was clear that his physical endurance had increased dramatically—his overall strength had risen by several levels.
Next was another ability: Ice Lan Admiral Army. This technique wasn't particularly effective in one-on-one combat, as its damage output was evenly distributed and less impactful against powerful villains. However, in large-scale battles or warfare, it became terrifyingly effective. By Etsuha's rough estimation, if thousands of his ice cavalry released their energy simultaneously, the resulting blizzard could engulf an entire city.
Unlike Moco Bo Temo, summoning the Ice Lan Admiral Army didn't consume much of Etsuha's stamina. The primary cost lay in creating the ice cavalry themselves. These constructs possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary humans, though they were somewhat less effective against powerful quirks. Still, their true value lay in numbers and efficiency rather than raw individual strength.
More importantly, the ice cavalry served as reservoirs for the energy of the "Devil's Essence." Once enough energy had been accumulated across the entire army, it could be unleashed in a single burst, creating a massive blizzard. While not overwhelmingly destructive on its own, it had the power to reshape the environment—an ability that could prove decisive under the right circumstances.
Finally, there was his genetic modification ability.
Although Etsuha primarily used it for healing, it wasn't limited to support. He soon discovered that it could be applied offensively as well.
Within U.A., he found an old, long-lived tree. Placing his palm against its trunk, he deliberately disrupted its genetic structure. As expected, the tree collapsed almost instantly.
The effect was eerily similar to Tomura Shigaraki's decay ability—except Etsuha's version only worked on living organisms.
"This isn't just a support skill… it can be used in combat too."
His eyes lit up with realization.
One experiment wasn't enough. Etsuha moved on to other trees, testing different variations of genetic disruption. Within minutes, a cluster of lifeless trees surrounded him, each displaying a different form of decay.
Some had crumbled outwardly. Others had withered from within. A few had twisted unnaturally, as if their internal structures had been violently rearranged before dying completely.
The differences came from how Etsuha severed specific gene chains upon contact. Each variation produced a unique form of biological collapse.
"The Nomu's strength must come from a similar principle… gene fusion engineered by that doctor," Etsuha muttered, a sharp glint in his eyes. "If I can directly destroy the brain's genetic structure… does that mean someone like that would be completely powerless against me?"
Notably, this form of destructive genetic interference didn't consume his stamina at all. That alone made it an incredibly attractive option against enemies like Nomu.
Unfortunately, without a proper test subject, he couldn't confirm whether it would actually work.
"Shina!"
A familiar voice called out from a distance.
Etsuha turned to see Aizawa Shouta approaching. "What is it?"
"I wanted to apologize for earlier," Aizawa said sincerely. "The principal and Recovery Girl weren't trying to target you. It's just that All Might's situation is… special."
Etsuha nodded casually. "I didn't take it personally."
Aizawa's eyelids twitched. He didn't quite believe that, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Changing the subject, he continued, "By the way, all the recommended students have arrived today. Though… one of them seems to have withdrawn, so there are only three of you now."
"Someone gave up U.A.?" Etsuha raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise despite having anticipated this possibility.
"Yeah. I'm not sure why, but we're not going to force them," Aizawa replied indifferently. U.A. had never pressured anyone to enroll. However, if someone like Etsuha ever chose to leave, things might be very different.
"Also," Aizawa added, "the event starts tomorrow."