I can't see it at all!
The thought struck Endeavour like a bolt of lightning.
It felt just like facing All Might—an overwhelming gap in speed and power that completely suppressed him. In those moments, his Quirk became meaningless, and defeat was inevitable.
And now…
Shina Etsuha gave him that exact same feeling.
This kind of speed… this kind of strength… it shouldn't exist in someone his age.
Yet there he stood, right in front of him.
For a brief moment, even Endeavour felt disoriented.
"Are you done thinking?" Etsuha leaned casually against the wall, his tone lazy. "If you're ready, I'll start."
Endeavour snapped back to reality, his expression turning cold.
"This isn't a place for a fight. We'll take it outside."
"Outside…" Etsuha considered for a moment, then nodded. "Let's go back to where Hawks and I fought. No one stupid enough to wander in there, I think."
Endeavour said nothing more, but as they moved, his mind began to analyze everything he had seen.
Think carefully.
Yes, Etsuha was fast—but not as fast as All Might.
If it came down to endurance, perhaps he couldn't keep up…
But—
A single Quirk can still decide everything.
And his Quirk was the perfect counter.
Endeavour's flames were not ordinary fire. They had reached a level of extreme control and refinement. He could shape them into weapons—spears, blades—and launch them at will.
This was why his Quirk was known as the strongest fire-type ability.
On top of that, the temperature he could produce was terrifying—far beyond what Shoto Todoroki could achieve.
"My Quirk suppresses his," Endeavour concluded quickly.
He had known this before, but Etsuha's overwhelming performance had shaken his confidence.
Now, after analyzing the situation again, his certainty returned.
Soon, the two arrived at the site where Hawks had died.
The massive crater remained, untouched. The area was open, with few structures and even fewer people—a perfect battlefield.
"This terrain favors me," Endeavour judged.
Meanwhile, Etsuha's gaze drifted toward the distant city center.
That was where the authorities were headquartered.
Those people… the ones who issued the order…
From his perspective, they were the real enemies.
Should I destroy them all?
The thought lingered.
Next time, maybe I'll just give them a warning. Destroy a few buildings… kill a few people… that should make enough noise.
A faint smile flickered in his mind.
That should get their attention.
Whoosh!
A spear of flame suddenly plunged into the ground, scorching the earth and sending waves of heat into the air.
"Now is not the time to be daydreaming," Endeavour said coldly.
"Sorry," Etsuha replied, turning his head. "I drifted off for a second."
In truth, he hadn't let his guard down at all.
Seeing Endeavour already in an attacking stance, Etsuha spoke calmly:
"Endeavour, I don't enjoy killing. If you promise to stay out of my affairs from now on… I won't kill you."
"It's not your place to say that!"
Endeavour moved instantly.
Despite being a Quirk-type fighter, his speed rivaled many enhancement-type users. In just a few flashes, he closed the distance and raised his hand—
A blazing pillar of fire erupted like a high-pressure cannon!
Boom!
Crimson flames tore through the air, painting the sky red.
"It seems you've made your choice."
Etsuha appeared behind him, power gathering in his leg.
"Die!"
Endeavour sensed the danger instantly. Flames exploded from his body, forming a high-temperature barrier meant to force Etsuha back.
But in the next instant—
A thin layer of frost formed over Etsuha's body.
The ice melted instantly, neutralizing the heat with ease.
And then—
Etsuha's kick landed.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Bang!
A full-force spinning kick slammed into Endeavour's waist.
It felt like his spine had shattered.
His body was sent flying, crashing violently into the ground.
"How is that possible?!"
His pupils shrank in shock.
The searing pain in his abdomen told him the truth—
At least one rib was broken.
And this had happened in a single exchange.
This was the result of Etsuha's recent growth. Even without relying on external abilities, his close-combat skills alone had reached a terrifying level.
"Great Freeze!"
Etsuha slammed his hand onto the ground.
A massive wave of ice surged outward, spreading like a frozen ocean.
Endeavour reacted instantly, releasing his flames at full power. The intense heat clashed with the ice, melting it into water, which then evaporated into thick mist.
In seconds, the battlefield was engulfed in fog.
Visibility dropped to near zero.
At that moment—
Etsuha moved.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he crossed thirty meters in an instant, appearing at Endeavour's side.
Whoosh!
Two ice arrows shot forward, forcing Endeavour to react.
As he dodged—
Etsuha's body surged with green energy, veins bulging with power.
The Inner Gate opened.
The Gate of Opening—released!
In the next instant—
He vanished.
And reappeared directly behind Endeavour.
His hand was coated in frost, shaped into a blade-like edge.
Without hesitation—
He struck.
Pshh!
Endeavour's back shoulder was torn open instantly.