"What—?!"
Even Endeavor was momentarily startled when the doctor suddenly rushed past him.
"His target is the bodies of those insect creatures—stop him!"
Masata immediately understood what the doctor was trying to do and shouted anxiously. Behind the lava wall Masata had created earlier were not only poisonous gas residues, but also dozens of insect-man corpses. If the doctor absorbed that flesh and blood, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hearing Masata's warning, Todoroki realized the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, a massive iceberg formed in front of him, blocking the doctor's path.
"Spitfire!"
Masata attacked at the same time. A gigantic magma fist slammed down toward the airborne doctor.
However, the doctor completely ignored their attacks, abandoning all defense. Even after being swallowed by the magma punch, his body regenerated at an astonishing speed. He burst out of the molten flow, smashed through the iceberg without slowing down, and finally reached the edge of the lava wall.
BOOM!
The solidified lava was shattered by a single punch. Even with his strength already declining, the doctor's power was still far beyond ordinary humans.
"Heh… heh…"
Staring at the insect corpses scattered across the floor, the doctor let out a chilling laugh.
"Become my nourishment!!!"
Raising his head, he roared toward the ceiling. In the next instant, countless flesh-like tendrils burst out from his body and connected to the corpses around him. As his quirk activated, the insect bodies twisted and melted, transforming into a torrent of flesh and blood that flowed into his body through the tendrils.
Endeavor rushed over, but he was too far away. All he could do was watch as the doctor completed his replenishment.
"Some of the flesh is carbonized… but it's more than enough!"
Although the corpses had been partially burned earlier, the look on the doctor's face was one of pure satisfaction.
"This power… with this power, I can change the world!"
The sudden surge of strength poured through his body, driving the doctor into a near-manic state.
"This is a disaster…"
Masata's expression darkened. Absorbing just the Rhino-Man's flesh had already allowed the doctor to fight Endeavor head-on. Now, with dozens of insect bodies added, how terrifying had he become?
"AAAAAHHHH—!!!"
A sudden scream of agony burst from the doctor's throat.
His body began to crack, collapse, and reorganize uncontrollably. Blood spilled everywhere, soaking his body until he looked like a walking mass of gore. Even his feet melted into pools of blood.
His form continued to mutate.
Where once there had only been monkey and rhino traits, now a thick carapace formed beneath his skin, eventually tearing through to become his outer layer. Two additional muscular arms burst out from under his armpits. A bulge rose from his forehead, splitting open as a massive horn emerged.
The doctor's body expanded rapidly, nearly filling the entire tunnel.
Even Endeavor felt a bead of cold sweat slide down his temple.
"Flying Fire Meteors!"
Masata never hesitated when facing villains. Seeing the doctor completely lose control, he raised his arm and unleashed countless magma punches.
Although the magma couldn't immediately break through the hardened carapace, it clung to the surface, slowly corroding it and exposing raw, red flesh beneath. However, under the influence of the doctor's quirk, the wounds healed rapidly.
"Is it because he absorbed too many genes that his body is collapsing?"
It was clear now—the doctor had lost all rational thought. His body continuously broke down and reassembled, the pain driving him mad. He stood there now purely on instinct.
"We need to end this quickly," Todoroki warned.
"The poison gas hasn't fully dissipated. I can feel my stamina dropping."
As if responding to their voices, the doctor let out a feral roar and charged toward the trio with his unstable body. Though he had lost intelligence, his sheer size and brute force made him terrifying.
"Healing Fist!"
Endeavor struck. A scorching wave of flame carbonized part of the doctor's carapace, but due to his massive size, the damage barely slowed him down.
"Scorching Hell!"
Masata activated his quirk fully. A flood of magma surged forward, engulfing the doctor's lower body and forming a molten pool around him.
"Todoroki—now!"
Understanding instantly, Todoroki released a terrifying wave of cold. The magma cooled rapidly, hardening into stone and locking the doctor in place.
Unable to move, the doctor roared in frustration. But with his intelligence gone and only brute force remaining, he couldn't break free immediately.
"Let's see," Endeavor said coldly, flames erupting across his entire body,
"if you can still regenerate after being completely carbonized."
"Todoroki, Masata—get back! Find cover and protect yourselves!"
Recognizing the stance immediately, both of them knew what was coming. They turned and ran, creating ice walls as they retreated to block the passage and prevent collateral damage.
Once the corridor was sealed behind them, Endeavor unleashed everything.
"You're too dangerous," he said, voice steady but resolute.
"And I can't guarantee capturing you alive."
"So—let me turn you to ashes right here!"
"PROMINENCE BURN!"
In an instant, unimaginable heat erupted from Endeavor's body.
At that moment, he resembled a man-made sun.
The compressed flames exploded outward, swallowing the doctor entirely.
The ice walls behind Endeavor were instantly vaporized. A shockwave of superheated air surged through the tunnel, blasting Masata and Todoroki off their feet as they ran.
"This is insane!" Masata shouted.
"Is your father really this strong?!"
Using ice to stabilize themselves, the two stared back in shock.
"This is the first time I've ever seen him use that move," Todoroki said quietly, awe filling his eyes.
The magma that had already cooled was reheated by the overwhelming temperature, flowing once more across the ground. Steel plates lining the tunnel melted into molten iron, dripping slowly.
As for the doctor—
He was gone.
Reduced to nothing but drifting ash.
"This… is the battle of a professional hero."
After the incident, Endeavor contacted government personnel to handle the cleanup. Numerous failed experimental subjects were discovered within the base. Perhaps the doctor had been close to success—but his twisted genius ultimately led him to ruin.
On the way back to the agency, Masata finally spoke.
"Our current strength is still far from enough."
The image of Endeavor's final attack replayed in his mind. If the No. 2 Hero was already this terrifying, then All Might—standing even higher—was beyond imagination.
"But one day," Masata said firmly,
"I'll definitely surpass them."
Todoroki said nothing.
But the determination reflected in his eyes showed that he felt exactly the same.