In the dimly lit alley, several figures moved cautiously. If an ordinary person saw them, they would be shocked—each one of them was a Pro Hero from the Best Jeanist Agency!
"Any leads?"
Within the group, the Hero Yamazaki Yuka—second only to Best Jeanist himself in the agency—spoke up, her voice sharp and focused.
Best Jeanist had identified three suspicious locations. To avoid letting the Villains slip away, the agency had split most of its Heroes into three teams. Yamazaki Yuka was leading one of them.
About ten minutes earlier, surveillance footage had captured something unusual—a black, swirling portal opening in a corner of the alley, from which several strange-looking figures emerged.
Yamazaki Yuka suspected the Villains were nearby.
But after sweeping through the area, they found nothing.
The silence was unnatural.
"The footprints here are scattered," said Isshiki Naomi, her eyes scanning the ground carefully. "I can't tell which direction they went. It looks like someone with a flight-type quirk helped them escape."
"A flying quirk… great," Yamazaki Yuka muttered, clicking her tongue. "These guys are getting more and more troublesome. It's not just our city either—I've heard people have gone missing in Shizuoka Prefecture too."
"No kidding…" Isshiki Naomi sighed. "With teleportation in play, their range is basically nationwide. Tracking them is a nightmare."
She hesitated briefly, then continued more seriously:
"No one knows their exact objective yet. But aside from homeless individuals with low social standing, some low-ranking Pro Heroes have also gone missing."
"Heroes? You're kidding…"
The other Heroes stiffened, goosebumps rising along their arms.
"I'm not completely certain," Isshiki Naomi admitted, pulling out a document. "But there are confirmed cases. Some people have already started forming theories…"
She paused, then spoke in a low voice:
"Their target… might be quirks."
"Quirks?!"
Yamazaki Yuka's eyes widened.
"You mean… those monsters in Shizuoka?"
She was referring to the terrifying creatures known as Nomu. Thanks to materials provided by Shina Etsuha to medical institutions, many Heroes had already seen images of them.
And every single one had felt a chill.
After all, who could accept that those grotesque things had once been human?
"Yes," Isshiki Naomi said gravely. "Some believe the missing people are being captured for experiments. The quirks found in Nomu… may belong to them."
The group fell silent.
Even though they had suspected as much, hearing it spoken aloud made it far more real.
"That's insane…"
"Who would even attempt something like this?"
"They're treating Pro Heroes like test subjects…!"
Isshiki Naomi shrugged slightly. "It's still just a theory. But one thing is certain—the enemy has a teleportation quirk. That alone puts us at a huge disadvantage. That kind of ability is incredibly rare… even U.A. doesn't have anyone like that."
"…You're right."
Yamazaki Yuka couldn't deny it.
But just then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A slow, deliberate applause echoed through the alley.
Every Hero froze.
They looked up at once.
Standing casually on a balcony above them was a strange young man.
He looked like a teenager, but there was something deeply unsettling about him. His entire body was covered in disembodied hands, clutching at his face, arms, and torso. Only glimpses of his skin could be seen between them.
Even without seeing his full expression, the oppressive aura around him was undeniable.
"Yes… your speculation is quite interesting."
His voice was laced with a chilling excitement.
"This game is getting more and more fun."
The Heroes' instincts screamed danger.
Yamazaki Yuka stepped forward, her voice sharp:
"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!"
"Me?"
The boy tilted his head slightly. Between the gaps of the hands covering his face, bloodshot eyes stared down at them.
"I'm exactly the person you're looking for."
A twisted grin crept into his voice.
"Tonight… I've caught a big fish."
If Shina Etsuha had been present, he would have recognized him instantly—
Shigaraki Tomura.
After suffering repeated setbacks, the League of Villains had abandoned their slow, cautious plans. They had begun mass-producing Nomu ahead of schedule—though they hadn't yet launched a full-scale city attack.
"Is this guy insane?" one of the Heroes snapped coldly. "Take him down!"
The Hero surged forward—his quirk enhancing his muscles, doubling his strength instantly. With a powerful kick, he launched himself nearly seven meters into the air toward Shigaraki.
Shigaraki merely smiled.
"Game over…"
Before anyone could react—
A massive shadow crashed down from above.
BOOM!
A monstrous figure landed directly in front of them.
Before the attacking Hero could even defend himself, the creature's hand clamped onto his spine—
CRACK.
The sickening sound of bones breaking echoed through the alley.
Only then did they see it clearly.
The hulking body.
The grotesque features.
The overwhelming presence.
It was—
A Nomu.