"This kind of speed… is this Nomu only at the level of an average Pro Hero?"
Shina Etsuha's Sharingan granted him exceptional perception. Although he had used Tsukuyomi earlier, the strain on his vision wasn't severe, and his eyes could still discern fine details.
Two Nomu had appeared in that area. For some reason, there were relatively few Pro Heroes nearby, but the Nomu themselves didn't seem particularly powerful. From a distance, Etsuha observed their attacks—at most, they could destroy buildings. Based on that, he judged their strength to be relatively average.
However, the sheer number of Nomu this time made the situation more dangerous. Even if each one wasn't overwhelmingly strong, their combined impact was significant. Still, for Etsuha, handling them alone was more efficient.
After locking onto their positions, he leapt from the rooftop. An icicle shot outward, connecting to a nearby structure, and he stepped onto it mid-air, propelling himself forward.
In less than three minutes, the two Nomu suddenly lifted their heads. A black shadow dropped from above and slammed into the ground before them.
Boom!
"This Nomu's physical strength really is weak…" Etsuha muttered, surprise flickering in his eyes. Under the Sharingan's analysis, both Nomu possessed physical capabilities comparable to standard Pro Heroes—just as he had predicted.
But the moment they saw Etsuha, one of them froze for an instant—then suddenly opened its mouth and unleashed a torrent of blazing flames!
"You counter my element?!"
The ice Etsuha had just created melted rapidly under the intense heat. At the same time, the second Nomu sprang into action. Slightly smaller than a typical Nomu, it had six arms. While Etsuha was momentarily occupied by the fire-breathing one, the smaller Nomu leapt forward and spat out a mass of white substance.
Etsuha saw it clearly—spider silk.
It carried a high level of viscosity, similar to Mineta's quirk. Instinctively, Etsuha conjured an ice shield to block it. But at that exact moment, the fire-breathing Nomu's body flared again, releasing another wave of scorching heat.
Chi—chi!
The ice shield began to melt rapidly, steam rising in thick clouds. Yet Etsuha's ice was far from ordinary. A sharp spike burst outward, freezing the surrounding vapor into snowflakes. The spider silk was instantly caught in the cold, solidifying mid-air into frozen strands.
However, the fire-breathing Nomu suddenly seemed to grow more agitated. Despite the freezing environment, its body radiated even more intense heat—like a miniature sun—melting Etsuha's ice all over again.
Hidden in the shadows, Shigaraki Tomura burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Took the bait! Let's see how you handle this. This semi-finished Nomu was made specifically for you—the colder the environment, the hotter it burns! Which will win, your ice or its heat? I can't wait to see!"
Etsuha narrowed his eyes. He had already noticed something unusual about this Nomu. The Sharingan spun slowly as his gaze locked onto the spider-like Nomu.
"Hey."
The creature froze instantly.
The Sharingan naturally possessed hypnotic abilities. Even without Tsukuyomi, controlling a Nomu of this level was effortless. At the same time, the fire-breathing Nomu's heat output surged even further, its body swelling as if it might explode.
"ROAR!!"
It bellowed wildly, the flames it expelled now tinged with gold, blasting forward like a laser cannon!
A pillar of fire shot skyward, incinerating part of a nearby building. Etsuha raised an eyebrow, then formed several ice arrows in his hand and fired them at the immobilized spider Nomu.
Swish!
The arrows pierced straight through its body. Etsuha could immediately tell—it was dead.
Only then did he shift his focus back to the fire-breathing Nomu.
"I have to admit… that quirk is impressive," Etsuha murmured.
If he had only relied on his Teigu abilities, he might have struggled here. But now, the Sharingan had become his greatest weapon against Nomu. During his first encounter, he hadn't realized how effective illusion techniques were against them and had resorted directly to Tsukuyomi. Later, he discovered that even basic hypnotic genjutsu could inflict massive damage on their fragile minds.
That realization had been a pleasant surprise.
The moment his gaze met the fire-breathing Nomu's eyes, its movements halted. Its focus shattered, and with a dull thud, it collapsed to its knees.
"What… is this…?"
From afar, Shigaraki Tomura watched the scene unfold, his mind in turmoil.
These Nomu had been deliberately released as test subjects. Their quirks had been carefully selected to counter Etsuha's freezing abilities, even at the cost of effectiveness against other heroes. But now, he realized something unsettling—
Even without relying on ice, Etsuha could handle them with ease.
"His quirk is exactly as the master predicted," Kurogiri said calmly from beside him. "A powerful ability that allows him to wield multiple powers as his own."
"The test is complete. We should report back."
The Nomu had merely been experimental tools. Kurogiri had scattered them across different areas to draw Etsuha out and observe his capabilities.
In truth, All For One had already considered intervening personally. But with a new generation of Nomu nearing completion, his confidence had grown—and he chose to wait.
"Damn it…" Shigaraki Tomura muttered, scratching his neck. Then a twisted grin spread across his face. "You can have these Nomu for now. But next time we meet… it'll be your death day."
What he didn't realize—
The Nomu standing before him were the perfect test subjects for Shina Etsuha's experiments.
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