1 Month Later — December
That fight with Croc was the best decision I've made in this life. Being that close to death lit a fire under me, pushing me harder than ever. But the biggest gain wasn't the benefits forged from the danger — it was getting a proper sensei.
Which also means I've been getting my ass kicked for an entire month.
But now? Now I can go hand‑to‑hand without my quirk against my teacher, who's set up a full training area in my base — way more spacious than my old apartment.
My strength has skyrocketed. Sensei's Chi breaks down my Hardening in ways no equipment ever could. And I've realized something important:
Fighting makes me grow faster than training ever will.
But ignoring my power‑ups and technique gains, today is the day Sensei starts teaching me how to wield Chi — because he believes my martial skill is finally up to par.
Richard: "Now, due to your talent with Chi, we don't need to waste time learning how to sense it. We can move straight to manipulating and using Chi for various purposes"
"The most common uses are enhancing physical abilities, accelerating healing, and even healing or empowering others. There are definitely more techniques, but even I don't know them all.
"Chi is, simply put, the power of one's body — one's lifeforce. In your case, your body is far beyond a normal human's, so your total Chi should be greater than mine. Close your eyes, look inward, and focus on moving your Chi through your body the same way your blood already does."
Denji Pov
Inhale.
.
.
.
Exhale.
.
.
.
I repeat the pattern, using Occlumency to pull up every memory of Chi I've ever felt — every moment Sensei shattered my Hardening, every second in that empty void where my heart…
.
.
.
Bump
.
.
.
That feeling — every heartbeat pushing that thick, viscous energy.
I imagine each beat forcing it through every artery. My Chi begins to follow my will.
I push more and more Chi with each beat, eventually generating enough force to complete a full loop through my systemic circuit — a slow but continuous loop in sync with my heartbeat.
But it's not enough.
Slowly, carefully, I guide it toward my brain. Gently completing that circuit.
Now every beat of my heart moves Chi…through…out…my…bo—dy
.
.
.
SMACK
Richard POV
Denji sits down and begins searching for his Chi. The sight still shocks me — the kid is a monster.
He went from trained civilian martial artist to my level in a month. His "Hardening," as he calls it — which I could easily break with Chi manipulation — now resists my Chi. That's ridiculous. A living material without another's Chi resisting mine… now stops it as if it learned to harden specifically against chi.
Wait. He's not—
My thoughts freeze.
He's actually merging his Chi into his cardiovascular system. That's something even I've never attempted — the risk of your heart exploding is too high.
And this kid does it on his first try like it's nothing.
I knew he was talented, but this is insane. I only told him to imagine Chi moving like blood — and he's doing what only the most gifted Chi users can achieve after years of training.
Wait. Why isn't he stopping?
His Chi is moving toward his head.
This kid is going to die.
Only O‑Sensei from the League of Shadows has ever managed that. But I can't interrupt him — any distraction could kill him instantly if it messes up this moment.
.
.
.
Smack
.
.
.
He… he did it.
The kid collapses forward, but he's alive. What the hell kind of monster have I taken in?
3rd POV
Unbeknownst to Richard Dragon, the boy was a far greater anomaly than he realized.
Due to the powers granted at his rebirth — all sharing a common medium and being facilitated by his unlimited potential — the original pure Chi in Denji's body not only retained its natural functions, but fused with his quirk, gaining a Hardening property.
This new energy flowed through his brain, the seat of his Occlumency, stabilizing his mind palace, strengthening its defenses, and pushing it to a new level of efficiency.
But the long‑term effects of creating a new source of energy — though not at the level of the other forces at the moment and — what it means for the boy known as Denji — are things only the future can reveal.