For a brief moment, Shina Etsuha felt as if he had stepped into a world of ice and snow. A biting chill seeped into his body through his skin, spreading inward until even his organs felt as though they had been frozen solid.
With his eyes closed, Etsuha didn't notice the change in his appearance. His black hair gradually shifted, turning a pale, icy blue under the influence of the freezing power, radiating an intense cold aura.
Then, just as quickly, a gentle force from his own quirk flowed through him, neutralizing the side effects. The frost receded, and his hair returned to its original black.
"…What a terrifying power. No wonder she's considered one of the strongest in that world."
When the extraction process finished, Etsuha slowly opened his eyes. A faint flash of icy blue flickered through his pupils before fading.
Logically, newly acquired abilities required time to adapt—just like when Izuku Midoriya first inherited One For All. A body that couldn't handle the power would often suffer severe backlash.
But Etsuha felt none of that.
He could clearly sense it—his control over this ability was already at 100%.
The power he had extracted wasn't just a simple weapon. It was the complete ability of Esdeath—the Teigu Demon's Extract—along with all her combat experience. Even advanced techniques, such as freezing time itself, felt within reach.
Realizing this, excitement flickered across his face.
With no one around, he decided to test it.
"Freeze."
Bang!
The temperature around him plummeted instantly. A visible wave of cold surged forward, striking a nearby trash can. The moment it made contact, the metal was encased in ice, transforming into a frozen sculpture. Frost rapidly spread across the wall behind it, leaving behind a chilling trail.
"So strong…!"
Etsuha's eyes lit up. This was only his first extraction, and it was already this powerful. If he could obtain even stronger abilities in the future, wouldn't he become completely unstoppable?
Rumble!
A sudden explosion echoed in the distance.
Moments later, chaos erupted.
Screams filled the air as people ran in panic.
"Ahhh! A monster!""Help!""Don't kill me—please don't kill me!"
"…A crime scene?"
Etsuha's expression shifted.
Thinking back, his sister Yu Takeyama was a professional hero—and today was a workday. Running into her earlier probably hadn't been a coincidence. She must have been tracking a criminal.
In this world, there were strict rules: civilians without a Hero License weren't allowed to use their quirks freely in public. Etsuha wasn't foolish enough to break that law without reason.
The best option right now was obvious.
Call his sister.
"Hey, Sis—there's someone attacking people at Tanshoin Town supermarket. It might be the criminal you're after. My location? I'm right nearby, maybe a few dozen meters away. But don't worry, my quirk— …Huh? Why'd you hang up?"
Etsuha stared at his phone in confusion.
He had barely started explaining when Yu Takeyama cut the call after saying, "I'm on my way—run!"
"…Seriously. Couldn't you at least let me finish?" he muttered, slightly annoyed.
"Well, well… isn't this the famous middle school manga artist? What a lucky encounter."
A voice suddenly came from beside him.
Etsuha turned his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Standing there was a girl around his age—fifteen or sixteen. Her blonde hair was tied into two messy buns, and her delicate features gave her an almost doll-like appearance. She looked cheerful… even cute.
But the moment he saw her, a name surfaced in his mind.
Himiko Toga.
Yes—the girl in front of him was a future villain.
He hadn't expected to meet her here.
"You know me?" Etsuha asked, frowning slightly.
Before obtaining his power, he would have been cautious. But now, with the full strength of Esdeath at his disposal, his confidence had risen dramatically.
Himiko Toga nodded, smiling brightly. "Of course. I'm a big fan of yours."
Then her tone shifted, almost playful—yet laced with something darker.
"But… you're in a very dangerous situation right now, you know?"
Etsuha's gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
Toga tilted her head slightly, her smile widening.
"Shina Etsuha—the beloved little brother of the Pro Hero Mt. Lady. You've been studied for a long time by certain people. This whole incident… was carefully arranged with you in mind."
A faint blue glow flickered in Etsuha's eyes once more.
"…So they're targeting me?"
Toga giggled softly.
"I'm just giving you a friendly warning. Try not to get captured, okay? Otherwise… the number of weaknesses those Pro Heroes have will increase by one."
With that, she turned and began to walk away.
Before leaving, she glanced back at him one last time. After observing him closely, she seemed to confirm something—and shook her head slightly in disappointment.
He really did look like someone without a quirk.
"…So the plan is to use me as a hostage to control the heroes," Etsuha murmured.
Just then—
He turned his head sharply.
The same man who had been wreaking havoc nearby suddenly locked onto him and charged forward at full speed.