"Don't die that easily…"
Masata released his elemental form midair and dropped back to the ground, molten magma splashing vividly across the dark alley.
The Hero Killer slammed down onto his back. His entire spine was submerged in lava, his body sinking rapidly.
Masata reacted instantly. He grabbed the Hero Killer and dragged him out of the magma, tossing him onto a relatively intact section of the alley.
He had to admit it—the doctor's research was terrifyingly effective.
The Hero Killer's back was completely charred. Flesh had burned into brittle blackened fragments, blood evaporated into a foul stench, and pieces of carbonized tissue flaked off with each breath.
And yet…
Granulation slowly crept across the scorched wounds.
It wasn't true Quick Regeneration, but it was far beyond the vitality of a normal human.
Only minutes ago, this man had overwhelmed four people at once. Now he lay restrained at Masata's feet.
Making sure he wouldn't die anytime soon, Masata rummaged through the alley, found a length of thick rope, stripped the Hero Killer of his remaining weapons, and tied him up tightly.
The process was rough.
Either from the pain or from the forced regeneration pushing his consciousness back online, the Hero Killer slowly opened his eyes.
"Only… a true Hero… can kill me!"
He burst into manic laughter, as if he'd just realized some great truth.
Masata spat to the side.
"You didn't die because I didn't want you dead. Don't get it twisted."
The contempt in Masata's voice ignited something inside him.
Despite being bound and broken, an intense conviction erupted from the Hero Killer's eyes. His expression twisted with fanaticism.
"Counterfeits must be corrected! Someone must step forward! Bathed in blood! Whether it's fake Heroes chasing fame or criminals abusing power—they all deserve elimination! Everything is for a righteous society!"
"Someone has to wake this world up… the real Heroes!"
After screaming those words with everything he had left, his body gave out. His chest heaved like a shattered bellows, each breath ragged and painful.
Masata stared at him.
This was the first time he'd encountered someone so utterly extreme—someone who had completely warped the concept of what a Hero was supposed to be.
"So that's why you hunt Heroes?" Masata said coldly. "That's absurd."
He continued without hesitation.
"Yes, some Heroes chase fame. Some are shallow. Some are hypocrites. But you're also hurting Heroes who genuinely save people—even if they treat it as a job."
Masata stepped closer, locking eyes with him.
"They haven't harmed society. They protect others. They earn money for it, sure—but they also risk their lives. They have families. They have responsibilities. What do you think Heroes are?"
His voice rose as he grabbed the Hero Killer by the collar and yanked him up until they were eye to eye.
"If you really wanted to wake society up, you'd expose villains hiding in the shadows. You'd hunt corrupt Heroes who abuse their power in secret!"
Masata's aura surged—heavy, oppressive, undeniable.
"Look at what you've done. You injured and killed Heroes who were actually helping people. You sided with the League of Villains and threw the city into chaos. Is this the society you wanted?!"
The Hero Killer couldn't answer.
His eyes rolled back, and he slipped into unconsciousness once more—his last burst of awareness driven purely by belief.
"Masata! Are you okay?!"
The alley filled with hurried footsteps.
Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki rushed back in, followed closely by Endeavor. Flames burned fiercely around Endeavor's body—silent, but tense.
"I'm fine," Masata replied casually, waving with one hand while dragging the unconscious Hero Killer with the other. "Relax."
The alley glowed red from cooling magma. Walls were cracked and shattered. Scorch marks covered every surface.
Against that backdrop, Masata's figure looked impossibly tall.
"He… he beat the Hero Killer one-on-one…"
Midoriya clenched his fist.
Even with Full Cowling, he'd been defeated instantly earlier. Everyone was growing stronger—and he couldn't afford to fall behind.
Suddenly, Iida stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault. You were hurt because of me. You pulled me out of hatred and revenge. Thank you."
His voice was rigid but sincere.
Masata laughed loudly.
"Now that you know that, work hard and make up for it. Life's just getting hurt, healing, and growing tougher."
He waved it off as if it were nothing.
Then he turned to Endeavor and handed over the bound Hero Killer.
"Uncle, this is him. You know my Quirk—he's alive, but barely."
Masata's expression grew serious.
"More importantly, he injected himself with a potion. It's almost certainly a prototype developed by that doctor."
Midoriya and Iida stiffened.
"That means," Masata continued, "similar substances might already be circulating. And that's bad news."
Endeavor's brow furrowed deeply.
He had seen firsthand how terrifying gene fusion could be.
If that power spread…
It would be a disaster for society.
...
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