Pushing aside the final stretch of bushes, Masata and his group emerged into an open clearing—the final checkpoint on the path back to the campsite.
At this very moment, a fierce battle was unfolding.
Three members of the PussyCats were locked in combat with two unfamiliar figures. The Wild, Wild PussyCats' support member was nowhere to be seen, while the North American Shorthair lay collapsed on the ground, blood streaming down from her head.
"How is this possible…? Even professional heroes are down?"
Chacha covered her mouth in shock.
Over the past two days, they had trained alongside the PussyCats often enough to know just how strong they were. This was not something ordinary students should be witnessing.
"The annoying brat finally showed up."
One of the villains—wearing black sunglasses—turned his head toward Masata's group. He was currently fighting Tiger, whose specialty was close-quarters combat, yet even Tiger was being forced back.
"Huh?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "Why is that slut here… and tied up like a prisoner?"
His gaze landed on Himiko Toga, who was still slung over Masata's shoulder.
"I'm not a prisoner~"
Toga giggled cheerfully. "I came with Masata voluntarily!"
She showed absolutely no awareness of her current situation.
"Tch. I knew you were useless," the man scoffed.
Picking up his weapon—a thick metal pillar wrapped in bandages—he leveled it directly at Masata.
"So you're Igarashi Masata. Took long enough to find you."
The instant he finished speaking, Masata felt a tremendous force seize his body. His feet left the ground as he was dragged violently toward the man.
"Feels like some kind of gravitational pull," Masata remarked calmly. "Interesting Quirk."
He didn't resist at all. Casually tossing Toga aside, Masata allowed himself to be pulled forward, watching the bandaged pillar rapidly fill his vision.
"Your Quirk might be strong," the villain sneered, "but your combat experience is trash!"
A smug grin spread across his face. Tiger roared in anger and rushed toward them, but he was too far away. Abandoning a hero to attack a student—this was nothing short of despicable.
Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu Momo and Chacha watched quietly, as if they were observing a movie. Among Class A, Masata's ability to fully elementalize was no secret. As long as he had stamina left, he was effectively invincible.
"Die!"
The massive pillar slammed straight into Masata's head.
The impact was horrifying. Masata's skull shattered instantly, molten crimson spraying outward and splattering across the villain's hands. At the same time, the strange pulling force abruptly vanished.
"…What?"
The man froze.
"I really don't get it," Masata's voice echoed calmly.
A new skull rapidly formed from molten magma at his neck. He rolled his shoulders and twisted his head, glaring at the stunned villain.
"Why do you people in the League of Villains talk so much?"
"The kid earlier was the same, and now you—another creepy guy in sunglasses—standing there like you've already won. Are you looking down on me?"
The villain collapsed backward, staring at his hands in disbelief.
Now he understood.
This was why Shigaraki had repeatedly warned them—why Igarashi Masata was labeled a top-priority threat. This kind of strength, this kind of presence… it didn't belong to a mere student.
Masata had no interest in further conversation.
Before the villain could recover, Masata stepped forward and drove a single punch into his face. Bone cracked. Blood sprayed. The body slammed into the ground, motionless, a pool of red quickly spreading beneath his head.
"…He shouldn't be dead, right?"
Masata glanced awkwardly at Tiger, who had just arrived.
Tiger's expression was even more complicated. A villain he had struggled against for so long hadn't lasted a single exchange against Masata. For a seasoned pro hero, it was honestly hard to accept.
"That was amazing, Masata! I love you even more now!"
Himiko Toga cheered excitedly from behind, still restrained by Yaoyorozu and Chacha.
The sight of Masata dissolving into magma replayed endlessly in her mind.
"MAGNE!"
A roar echoed from the other side of the clearing.
The remaining villain—red-haired, green-skinned, resembling a massive lizard—was locked in combat with Mandalay. He wielded a massive sword formed from countless short blades bound together, clashing fiercely with her.
In the span of just ten seconds, his ally had fallen.
Confusion flashed across his face.
"What was that thing you just fought?" Masata asked bluntly. "Another experimental subject from the League of Villains?"
At first glance, Masata was reminded of Stain. After all, Stain's body had also displayed animal traits after genetic modification. Was this man fused with lizard genes?
Mandalay hesitated briefly, giving the villain a moment to breathe.
"You're Igarashi Masata," the lizard-man said solemnly. "The one who ended Stain in Hosu."
"I don't know what 'guinea pig' you're talking about," he continued. "My name is Spinner. I follow Stain's ideals."
Masata narrowed his eyes.
"So it wasn't a coincidence that Stain lost to you," Spinner said firmly. "Only a true hero could defeat him. I acknowledge you—but I'll carry on his will and correct this twisted society—"
He never finished the sentence.
A storm of lava fists descended from the sky.
Spinner barely had time to block a few blows with his massive blade before the molten tide engulfed him completely.
The clearing fell silent.
Masata shook the black smoke from his hands, utterly speechless.
Do villains these days all suffer from terminal monologue syndrome?
Or is the League of Villains just a gathering place for idiots who can't shut up?
"I don't care who you approve of," Masata said coldly.
"And your ideals mean nothing to me."
"If you stand in my way," he finished, "then I'm sorry—but you're done."