Ryu looked at his panel with absolute shock: ‘This…
These are my stats?’
…
_____
[Name: Ryu Takane
Age: 17
Height: 171.3 cm » 175.2 cm
Weight: 62.5 kg » 65.4 kg
Health: 84.3%
Stamina: 54%
Condition: Slightly Battered & Tired
Physicality: 1.1 » 3.8 » 4.6
Abilities:
-Overcome – Lvl (MAX): ??????
-Pain Tolerance – Lvl 4 » 16 » 18
-Willpower – Lvl 5 » 16 » 18
-Enhanced Stamina – Lvl 4 » 14 » 16
-Bone Toughness – Lvl 2 » 13 » 15
-Muscle Quality – Lvl 1 » 12 » 15
-Blunt Force Resistance – Lvl 3 » 12 » 15
-Recovery – Lvl: 4
-Combat Instincts – Lvl 1 » 7 » 12
-Hand to Hand Combat – Lvl 1 » 7 » 12]
_____
…
The changes had been staggering: ‘I got over 3 times stronger since that last fight, and I must have got even stronger while fighting Hiroki just now…’
Ryu was looking at his skills as well, realizing they had grown even further, but not nearly as explosively as last time…
‘Still…
I got this much stronger in just a few weeks…’ He couldn’t believe it.
But why was he out for an entire weak?
It didn’t make sense.
Not only that, he had gotten much stronger after fully recouperating as well.
‘Wait…
Maybe that’s why I practically slept for 2 weeks…
Maybe my body was resting?
I don’t think I ever fully recovered from any of my fights with Hiroki, and that last one must have really pushed me.’
However, he still couldn’t fathom how he had grown this much stronger.
All he could remember at the moment was that, all his relevant attributes had been question marks.
And everything changed drastically.
Not to mention the boost to his skills were much higher than before as well…
‘Gah!
I’ll have to think about it some other time…
I know it’s related to why I was out for so long.
It has to be…’ The two couldn’t be some coincidence.
For now, Ryu need to head to class.
He had missed over 2 weeks of notes…
…
When he entered the classroom, his teacher immediately noticed him.
She looked over from her desk, clearly surprised to see him back: “R-Ryu, you’re finally back.
You’ve been gone for weeks.
Where on earth have you even been?”
Ryu huffed to himself, taking his seat: “Actually…
I was really sick.
But…
I’m feeling much better now.”
The teacher studied him for a moment before accepting the answer, eventually reminding him that there was a test coming up next month and that he needed to start studying now if he wanted any chance of doing well.
Ryu could only sigh internally as he looked over the notes he’d missed.
‘Great…
I get a supernatural ability that turns me into a walking training montage, and I still have to worry about school tests…’
The rest of the day passed relatively normally, though Ryu spent most of it trying to catch up on what he’d missed.
By the time the final bell rang, his head was already filled with information he barely remembered writing down.
He packed his things and eventually left the school grounds, deciding that he’d worry about studying properly once he got home.
He hadn’t gotten very far when a voice suddenly called out from behind him: “Oi!!!
You’re Ryu Takane, right?”
Ryu stopped and turned around, finding himself facing a youth who looked like he was probably a student himself, although he was considerably taller than almost everyone he’d seen at school.
He had to be at least 190 centimeters, perhaps even taller, with brown hair and striking blue eyes…
Despite his imposing stature, his expression carried a strangely relaxed confidence, almost cocky, but not in a particularly unpleasant way.
Ryu eventually spoke: “Uh…
Yeah.” Ryu looked him over: “Who are you…?”
The youth only smiled: “You’re the guy who went toe-to-toe with Hiroki Kenzaki, aren’t you?”
Ryu’s eyebrows rose slightly: “Where did you hear that from?” Instead of answering, the boy’s grin widened as he stepped closer: “Doesn’t matter.
I heard you were around his level, so I wanted to see for myself.”
‘Who the hell is spreading these rumors…?’
Ryu couldn’t help but wonder.
Still, considering how his last spar with Hiroki had gone, he couldn’t exactly say the rumor was completely wrong.
His physical abilities had skyrocketed since their first encounter, and after the latest fight, he was confident that he and Hiroki were at least comparable now: ‘At least…
Kind of.’
Ryu folded his arms: “Alright, but first, what’s your name?” The youth’s grin widened even further: “Kisame Tataki.
Remember it well, because I’m going to become the strongest man in Japan someday!”
Ryu stared at him for a moment before shrugging: “Alright, Kisame.
I’ll spar with you.” He then raised a finger: “But can you just…
not knock me out?
I know when I’ve been beaten, and I’d rather not get my clothes dirty.”
Kisame paused before bursting into laughter: “That’s a first.
Sure, I’ll fight you.”
The two moved to a more open area, and Ryu immediately noticed something strange about Kisame’s stance.
The moment the spar began, Kisame suddenly stepped forward and launched a kick toward Ryu’s head.
Ryu barely managed to duck beneath it: ‘Fast!’
He immediately retaliated with a straight punch, but Kisame twisted his body and avoided it before throwing another kick.
Ryu raised his arm to block, the impact forcing him several steps backward…
‘He’s using his legs almost exclusively…’ Ryu quickly adjusted his stance as Kisame came forward again, his kicks chaining together with punches and footwork that made his movements difficult to predict.
Ryu managed to slip one kick before countering with a strike of his own, forcing Kisame to retreat slightly.
For several exchanges, the two remained relatively even, with Ryu’s instincts allowing him to compensate for Kisame’s superior reach while Kisame’s technique allowed him to keep Ryu at a distance.
‘He’s strong.’ Ryu could feel it with every exchange they did so far.
But then that familiar sensation began stirring inside him: ‘…Overcome.’
The moment Ryu recognized it, Kisame’s expression changed slightly.
He had been watching Ryu’s movements carefully, and after several exchanges, he finally spoke: “If that was you giving it your all just now…” Kisame’s eyes narrowed slightly: “I’m honestly disappointed in that Hiroki fellow.”
Ryu’s eyes widened: ‘…What?’
Hiroki was already far beyond what Ryu considered a normal human in terms of strength, speed and technique, yet this guy was disappointed by him?
‘What kind of monster is this guy?’ He thought he’d seen enough from Hiroki, but this?
This was rediculous…
Kisame lowered his stance slightly, his expression becoming more focused as he quietly muttered: “Since I’ve got a good judge on your level now, this should be enough.”
Ryu frowned: “Enough for wha—”
He barely had time to react.
Kisame’s leg suddenly shot forward.
‘DODGE!!!’ Ryu’s instincts screamed at him to move, and his arms snapped upward just in time to intercept the kick.
BOOM!!!!!!
Ryu’s entire body was forced backward.
“What the—?!”
His arms trembled violently from the impact, his muscles and bones seemingly vibrating from the force alone.
It felt as though he’d just tried to block something capable of snapping both arms in half!
‘That speed…!’ That was the part that terrified him.
Ryu hadn’t even seen the kick properly.
The only reason he’d managed to block it was because his body had reacted before his conscious mind could process what was happening.
Kisame’s eyes widened slightly: “…You blocked that?” Kisame stated, in what seemed like genuine wonder.
Ryu on the other hand, struggled to steady himself, his arms still aching from the impact…
Something he didn’t think could happen to him any more, at least for a while.
Even Hiroki never hit this hard…
Kisame then stared at him for another moment before a smile slowly spread across his face…
That very smile had sent a chill down Ryu’s spine…
‘I’ve never failed to judge someone’s level before.’ Kisame’s eyes sharpened as he watched Ryu carefully;
‘But this guy…’ His grin widened: ‘He seems a little different than the regular rooks…’ Kisame lowered his stance once more, clearly preparing to continue.
“So…” His smile became even more pronounced: “How about I keep testing you, hmm?”
Ryu could only feel a drop of sweat forming…
Ryu at least knew that this world had its superhumans in spades…
But the other?
‘Theres always bigger fish…’
.
.
.
End