Ryu slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry for a few seconds before gradually coming into focus…
‘Argh…’ He internally grumbled.
His entire body felt like it had been run through a meat grinder, every muscle aching and spasming in protest whenever he tried to move.
He groaned quietly, attempting to sit up, only to immediately realize something was different…
‘Wait…
This isn’t dirt.’ His back was resting against something soft, and the air around him smelled faintly of disinfectant and rubber rather than soil.
Ryu slowly pushed himself upright, wincing as another wave of pain travelled through his body: “Ouch…
My body’s really feeling it this time.”
He looked around, taking in his surroundings for the first time.
The room was large, with padded flooring, training equipment, heavy bags, and several pieces of gym equipment scattered around the spacious interior: ‘Where the hell am I?’ Ryu wondered, looking down at himself before noticing the bandages wrapped around various parts of his body;
‘Oh…
Someone must’ve patched me up too.’ He flexed his fingers slightly, feeling the familiar spasms running through his body once more: “This again…” Ryu muttered, remembering the last time he’d pushed Overcome this far.
It was annoying, but he’d dealt with worse by now, so he simply bit through the discomfort and slowly got himself standing…
Just as he turned around, a nearby door opened.
Ryu looked toward it, only to see Gonzo entering the room.
Unlike earlier, he wasn’t wearing his school uniform, instead dressed in loose, casual clothing that made his enormous frame look even more imposing.
Gonzo stopped when he noticed Ryu standing: “You have awakened…?”
Ryu glanced down at himself before looking back at him: “Yeah…
What happened?”
Gonzo walked further into the gym, carrying a small bottle of water in one hand: “I brought you here.
You were quite injured, and I could not simply leave you lying outside after our fight.”
He gestured toward the bandages: “I also gave you some medicine.
It should help with your recovery…
But, I didn’t expect it to be this fast…” Genzo muttered the last part.
Not expecting to see Ryu up already.
Ryu blinked before giving him a tired smile: “Thanks…
Seriously.”
Gonzo simply nodded, though there was a hint of curiosity in his expression: “I am surprised you have awakened this quickly.
Given the condition you were in, I expected you to remain unconscious for at least a day, perhaps longer.”
Ryu rubbed the back of his neck: “Yeah…
I’ve actually been waking up faster than normal recently.
Guess my body’s getting used to this kind of thing.”
‘Though I’m not exactly sure that’s something I should be proud of…’ He thought, glancing down at the bandages covering his body.
Getting beaten unconscious was becoming a little too familiar for his liking.
Ryu then looked around the gym again: “So…
Where exactly am I?”
“This is my personal gym.”
Ryu’s eyebrows rose slightly, asking: “Your personal gym?”
Gonzo nodded: “Yes.
I train here regularly.”
Ryu looked around once more, finally understanding why the place was so large, and well-equipped: “I see…” At the back of his mind, be realized that Gonzo must also be quite a wealthy fellow.
He then glanced toward a clock hanging on the wall.
His eyes widened slightly when he noticed the time: “How long was I out for?”
“Several hours.
It is almost ten o’clock.” Gonzo said cooly.
Ryu let out a small sigh of relief: “That’s not too bad, considering the state I was in.”
‘At least I didn’t lose another entire week because of it…’ He thought, remembering his previous recovery periods.
Much less the exams he has to take in a few weeks.
Ryu then remembered something else: ‘That’s right…!
My stats.’
He closed his eyes for a moment and focused inward, willing the familiar panel to appear before him…
The translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
Ryu stared at it silently: ‘Let’s see what changed this time…’ Ryu expected an explosion like last time…
In terms of pure physical injuries, this was easily the worst shape he’s been in…
…
____
[Name: Ryu Takane
Age: 17
Height: 177.6
Weight: 68.8 kg » ???
Health: 23%
Stamina: 29.2%
Condition: Heavily Injured & Extremely Exhausted
Physicality: 74.2 » 152.99 » ???
Abilities:
-Overcome – Lvl (MAX): ??????
-Iron Will – Lvl 1 » 5: Strengthens the user’s ability to endure pain, resist mental strain, and maintain determination under extreme physical or psychological pressure.
-Enhanced Stamina – Lvl 43 » 66
-Bone Toughness – Lvl 42 » 65
-Balanced Muscle Quality – Lvl 1 » 12: Increases the strength of the user’s muscles, as well as equalizes the force output of the user’s muscles, allowing different muscle groups to exert comparable levels of strength regardless of their natural differences.
-Blunt Force Resistance – Lvl 41 » 62
-Minor Regeneration – Lvl 1: Allows the user to gradually recover stamina swiftly, and quickly mend brusies, wounds, and acceleratethe repair of broken bones…
-Innate Awareness – Lvl 1 » 10: Enhances the user’s perception, sensory processing, reflexes, spatial awareness, instincts, and bodily coordination.
-Partial MMA – Lvl 1 » 6: Increases the user’s hand, kick, grappling and throwing based skills.
____
…
‘Ha…
My strength actually doubled from fighting this huge lug?’ What’s even more surprising is that, after recovering, hell explode in stats once more.
Currently, Ryu knew he was well within the threshold superhumans…
Not only that.
He looked down further, realize f that a majority of his skills had changed considerably…
Recovery had changed to minor regeneration.
Further enahncing his natural recovery even further.
Honestly, It had likely been the real cause as to why he was up so quickly to begin with…
Ryu then realized that a majority of his skills had likely merged into one based of their new descriptions.
Innate awareness had covered enhanced Dexterity, combat instinct, perception, reflexes, and dynamic vision into one super skill, without allowing him to lose any of the effects of the previous ones.
His MMA had now changed into partial MMA, now including both grapples and throws into his combat style, greatly increasing his options of attack…
However, Ryu was mostly interested in the balanced muscle quality skill.
Muscle Quality had clearly merged with something else to create this skill.
However, him now having relatively equal output in all muscular activities was quite scary to think about.
Wouldn’t this mean his punches would strike as hard as his kicks…?
‘Talk about absurd…’ Ryu thought.
He then looked over to Gonzo, saying: “I should go…
I think I’m in a good enough condition to get home by my lonesome.”
“…”
Gonzo remained silent for a moment after hearing Ryu’s words, his expression becoming slightly more serious: “You, intend to leave…?”
Ryu nodded, carefully stepping away from the wall: “Yeah.
I think I’m in good enough condition to get home by myself.” He took another step, though his body immediately reminded him that his definition of *good enough* was perhaps a little optimistic.
His muscles spasmed beneath the bandages, forcing him to pause for a second before continuing: ‘Okay…
Maybe I’m not exactly in perfect shape.’ Still, he’d recovered from worse, and he didn’t want to impose on Gonzo any longer than necessary.
Gonzo watched him carefully before speaking: “I would advise against it.”
Ryu looked back toward him: “I’ll be fine.”
“I am not referring to your physical condition.” Gonzo quickly clarified.
Ryu tilted his head slightly.
Gonzo folded his arms: “I would like to make you an offer.”
Ryu’s expression became curious as Gonzo continued: “You should join my family’s gym.”
“Our facilities are considerably better suited for developing someone with your potential.
I have encountered many talented individuals throughout my training, but you are different.” Gonzo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Ryu: “Your talent is quite literally endless.”
Ryu scratched his cheek awkwardly: “Endless is a pretty big word.”
“It is the most accurate one I can think of.” Gonzo replied without hesitation: “You are an unrefined gem, Ryu.
Your techniques are incomplete, your understanding of combat is inconsistent, and your body is constantly changing.
Yet despite all of that, you continue to improve.”
Ryu remained quiet as he listened…
“Most gems require someone to carve them before their brilliance can be seen.” Gonzo continued, his expression becoming almost contemplative: “You are different.
You do not seem to require someone to carve you.
Given enough time, you will naturally polish yourself.”
Ryu couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment: ‘That’s…
surprisingly profound coming from a guy who just threw me around like a rag doll.’
He eventually smiled faintly: “I’m thankful for the offer.
Really.
But I haven’t even taken up my first friend’s offer to join his gym yet.
Joining yours now would probably be a bit of a disservice to him…”
Gonzo nodded slowly: “Hn~ I see…” There was no disappointment in his voice, though perhaps a slight hint of regret: “That is truly unfortunate…”
Ryu shrugged: “Maybe I’ll reconsider eventually.”
“Then, if you ever wish to spar, you may come here at any time.” Gonzo suddenly offered.
Ryu raised a brow, asking: “Hmm?
Any time?”
“Well…
Except Saturday and Sunday.” Gonzo answered plainly: “Those days are reserved for…
other matters.”
Ryu chuckled softly: “Fair enough.
I’ll take you up on that.”
Gonzo nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer: “I will look forward to it.”
Ryu then glanced down at himself, finally noticing something he’d neglected to question since waking up: “Wait…
Where are the rest of my clothes?”
Gonzo looked toward him.
Ryu was still shirtless, with only his pants remaining on his body: “Uhm…
I kinda need those if I’m going home.”
“Of course.” Gonzo turned toward another room: “I will retrieve them.”
Ryu waited patiently as Gonzo disappeared through the doorway.
A few minutes later, he returned with Ryu’s clothes folded neatly in his hands: “Here.”
“Thanks.” Ryu quickly put his shirt back on, though the fabric felt slightly tighter around his shoulders than he remembered: ‘Yeah…
I’m definitely going to need a new uniform soon.’
He adjusted his clothes before looking around the gym one final time.
He committed the layout and general location to memory, knowing that he’d probably have to come back eventually;
“Well, I should get going.”
Gonzo nodded: “Take care, Ryu.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Ryu stepped outside, the evening air hitting his face as he began walking away from the gym.
His body still hurt considerably, but thanks to his newly enhanced recovery, the pain was already becoming more manageable…
He glanced back once: ‘I’ll probably be seeing that guy again.’
With that thought, Ryu continued down the street.
There was only one small problem…
He had absolutely no idea where his house was: “…”
Ryu stopped walking.
He stared at the unfamiliar streets surrounding him: ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
.
.
.
End