Nomu had originally been human—but its brain had been destroyed and altered by Quirk experimentation. Even so, that didn't mean its body was unusable.
The moment Shina Etsuha realized that Nomu could serve as experimental material, he had intended to act immediately. However, the strain from Tsukuyomi had already pushed his body to its absolute limit. Attempting to modify or interfere with Nomu's Quirks in that condition would mean overexerting himself far beyond safe limits.
Reluctantly, he abandoned the idea—for now.
But as his focus returned fully to reality, Etsuha suddenly noticed something wrong.
Nomu… had stopped breathing.
Not only that—its heart had completely ceased functioning. Even though its powerful body still retained some residual vitality, it was clear to everyone present that its biological functions were rapidly deteriorating.
"…Because I destroyed its mind, did its breathing and heart stop as well?"
Etsuha frowned.
"Something's wrong with its body," Best Jeanist said sharply, stepping forward to examine it. His expression quickly changed. "It's not breathing. No pulse either—what's happening?"
The other heroes rushed over.
Several of them, trained in emergency response, immediately began first aid. One initiated chest compressions while another prepared oxygen support. They worked quickly and efficiently—but there was no response.
Nomu showed no signs of consciousness.
No matter what they did, its heart refused to restart. Its lungs remained still.
Gradually, its skin began to turn a dark purplish hue.
And in the end—
It died.
"…It's gone."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their voices heavy.
"Etsuha. Come with me."
Best Jeanist shot him a look before walking toward a quieter corner.
Etsuha followed without protest.
"What exactly did you do to it?" Best Jeanist asked, his tone serious. "That wasn't just a mental attack, was it?"
"Its mind was extremely fragile," Etsuha replied with a helpless shrug. "I destroyed it in a single strike."
Due to extensive Quirk modification, Nomu's brain had already been severely compromised. Its mental resilience was practically nonexistent. Under normal circumstances, even a basic mental attack could cause significant damage—let alone Tsukuyomi.
Only after the fact had Etsuha realized just how fragile it truly was.
A normal person might endure weeks of mental torture before breaking.
Someone strong-willed might last months.
Nomu… hadn't lasted even that long.
"I see…" Best Jeanist exhaled slowly. "You did what you had to. In that situation, eliminating it wasn't wrong. I'm not blaming you."
He paused—his expression tightening.
"But you need to understand something."
"If it's dead, the story changes."
Etsuha blinked. "What do you mean?"
"That means this won't make the news."
"…What?!"
For a moment, Etsuha felt like he'd just lost a fortune.
This had been the perfect opportunity to make a name for himself—possibly even boost his reputation across the entire city.
And now… nothing?
"It's not that it can't be reported," Best Jeanist continued calmly, "but our agency will have to suppress the details. You understand why, don't you?"
His gaze sharpened.
"As heroes, we represent society. Even the worst criminals aren't supposed to be executed casually. Your case is… exceptional. I understand that. But the public won't."
"If word spreads that a hero killed someone—even a Villain—the backlash could be severe."
"Worse… it could cost you your hero license entirely."
"…That serious?"
It was the first time Etsuha had heard something like this.
Back when he dealt with the muscular bloodthirsty Villain, he hadn't even been officially affiliated with U.A., and he was still a minor. The situation had been different.
Now, however, he represented more than just himself.
He represented Best Jeanist's agency.
This wasn't something that could be handled casually anymore.
"This incident will have to be handled quietly," Best Jeanist said. "But it's not a total loss. For the first time, we've uncovered part of that organization."
His eyes turned cold.
Shigaraki Tomura.
That name alone was a critical lead.
This mission had come at a heavy cost.
The Nomu's overwhelming strength had nearly wiped out the entire team. Though it hadn't gone out of its way to kill them, many heroes had suffered devastating injuries.
Broken bones were the norm.
Some had it worse.
One hero had his spine shattered—reduced to a vegetative state.
Under normal circumstances, that would have been a life sentence.
But Etsuha… changed that.
Once he had recovered enough stamina, he began treating the injured.
One by one, shattered bones were restored. Severe injuries disappeared as if they had never existed.
In no time, Etsuha became the center of attention within the agency.
A healing ability like his was priceless.
Among heroes, support capabilities like that were often more valuable than raw strength.
Even veteran heroes couldn't help but admire him.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit bar—the hideout of the League of Villains—
A portal twisted open.
Shigaraki Tomura stepped out.
His posture was tense, his breathing uneven.
"All For One" immediately noticed.
"What happened?" the voice asked calmly. "Did you encounter a troublesome opponent?"
"Shina Etsuha…" Shigaraki muttered through gritted teeth. "I ran into him again. How the hell has he gotten so strong so fast?"
"Oh?" The tone shifted slightly, amused. "Nomu was with you, wasn't it? How did it perform?"
Shigaraki let out a cold laugh.
"He's no match for Nomu. His attacks can't outpace its regeneration. Give it time, and he'll be crushed like a stray dog."
Just as his words fell—
A portal opened again.
Kurogiri emerged, his voice urgent.
"…Nomu has been killed."