"Gulp!"
The two of them swallowed at the same time.
Even so, as a professional journalist, Taiga barely managed to keep his composure. After all, Endeavor was still a Pro Hero—no matter how terrifying he looked, he wouldn't just attack someone, right?
With that thought in mind, Taiga forced a smile and began, "U-Um… Mr. Endeavor…"
Endeavor shot him a glance. As he stepped forward toward the battlefield where Shina Etsuha had been, he asked in a low voice:
"How is Hawks?"
Taiga let out a quiet breath of relief. At least he was willing to speak.
"He… has been killed."
Endeavor's expression shifted instantly.
Without another word, he strode into the crater left by the battle. Moments later, he found the body—
A headless corpse.
Even someone like him couldn't hide the shock in his eyes.
"…Hawks is dead."
For the first time, his expression turned completely serious.
Being a Hero was always dangerous—but among the Top Ten, the mortality rate had remained extremely low. Reaching that level meant experience, skill, and the ability to survive.
Deaths like this… were rare.
And this one—
Was brutal.
Upon closer inspection, aside from shattered ribs throughout his body and the crushed head, there were almost no other external injuries.
That meant only one thing.
He had been overwhelmed… completely.
It sounded unbelievable.
But it was reality.
Hawks had been utterly outmatched by Shina Etsuha. The gap between them was insurmountable.
In truth, in terms of raw strength alone, the difference between Etsuha and Hawks wasn't supposed to be that extreme.
Hawks' Quirk was powerful—his feathers could shift in hardness at will, and he could control them freely. With full force, even a handful of feathers could unleash terrifying piercing power.
But Heroes in this world shared a common flaw—
They relied on a single ability.
Aside from the rare case of All For One, nearly every Hero had this limitation. While focusing on one Quirk allowed them to refine it to perfection, it also became a fatal weakness.
And against Shina Etsuha—
That weakness was exposed completely.
Hawks might have been able to fight Etsuha head-on with his Quirk.
But he had been caught by Etsuha's Sharingan—his mind disrupted, his actions controlled.
That was Etsuha's greatest advantage.
He was not bound by a single Quirk.
"…A terrifying opponent."
A flicker of intensity passed through Endeavor's eyes.
Only by standing here could he truly grasp the scale of Etsuha's power.
The surrounding ice stretched endlessly, freezing everything in sight. The air itself had turned to frost.
Hawks had been dead for only a short time—
Yet his entire body had already been encased in ice.
And this frozen domain extended for thousands of meters.
At that moment, Taiga caught up from behind, shivering as he stepped onto the frozen ground. Fortunately, the flames surrounding Endeavor kept the worst of the cold at bay.
"Mr. Endeavor, how will you handle this situation?" Taiga asked, holding out the microphone.
This was unavoidable.
The impact of Etsuha's actions had already spread across society. If the authorities didn't respond, it could easily trigger widespread panic.
Endeavor stared ahead, voice firm.
"We underestimated his strength."
Then, without hesitation, he continued:
"But I will risk my life to stop him."
Taiga's eyes lit up.
"And what will the official response be?"
"…"
Endeavor opened his mouth to answer—
But his phone suddenly rang.
The number displayed was from the official Hero command network.
As soon as he answered, a grave voice spoke:
"The threat level of Shina Etsuha is to be raised to maximum."
"Endeavor, Best Jeanist—cease all independent pursuit immediately."
"The objective has changed: contain Etsuha's actions until All Might arrives."
"Repeat—do not engage directly."
"If any Hero encounters Shina Etsuha, prioritize civilian safety and retreat if necessary."
Even Endeavor froze.
This wasn't just an adjustment—
It was a complete reversal.
A 180-degree shift in policy.
"Is this a joke?!"
Rage flared instantly.
Abandon the mission?
Retreat?
Wait for All Might?
Every single order struck at his pride.
"Damn it!"
He nearly crushed the phone in his hand. The device bent under his grip, but its reinforced construction prevented it from breaking.
After a moment, he forced himself to calm down.
The flames around him steadied.
His expression turned cold once more.
"Uh… what happened?"
Taiga and the cameraman exchanged confused glances. They hadn't heard the conversation clearly—only seen Endeavor's sudden fury.
"The official response regarding Shina Etsuha will be announced later," Endeavor said curtly. "It is not something that can be disclosed right now."
With that, he turned and walked away.
"Huh…?"
Taiga stared at his back, stunned.
What did that call mean?
And more importantly—
What kind of enemy had forced the Hero authorities to make such a decision?