izana_king snippet

As I walk back from school, the streets buzz with the usual chaos of New York, a mix of honking horns, shouting pedestrians, and the occasional distant siren. Suddenly, I hear the crash of breaking glass followed by a loud thud. I barely sidestep as a man flies out of a second-story window, landing hard on the pavement in front of me.

He groans and stumbles to his feet, before limping off. I pause, looking up at the building he came from.

The sign above the door reads: Iron Fang Dojo. The lettering is faded, and the building looks run-down, its bricks darkened by grime and time. I rub my chin thoughtfully. A dojo in the middle of gang territory? That's either the worst idea ever or the most badass thing I'll see all week.

"Well," I murmur to myself, "might as well check it out. Could be fun."

Pushing the door open, I step inside. The sound of grunts and strikes fills the air, along with the faint smell of sweat and disinfectant. The dojo is small and worn, with mismatched mats on the floor and a few punching bags hanging near the back. A dozen or so students are training, throwing punches, practicing kicks, or sparring with one another. Their techniques range from decent to sloppy, though a couple of them show promise.

My eyes wander as I take it all in. For a place in a neighborhood like this, it's surprisingly lively.

"Can I help you?" a voice asks, sharp but not unkind.

I turn to see a young Asian woman standing a few steps away. She's wearing a black gi with red trim, her long brown hair tied into a neat ponytail. Her posture is relaxed but firm, and there's a sharpness in her dark eyes that tells me she knows how to handle herself. Probably the instructor here.

She raises an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. I flash her a polite smile.

"Just curious," I say. "This place seems… interesting."

Her expression doesn't change. "We don't allow spectators unless you're thinking of joining."

"Maybe I am," I reply casually. "But first, I like to know what I'm getting into."

She crosses her arms, her gaze narrowing slightly. "This isn't some after-school club. If you're just here to waste time, you can leave now."

Fair enough. I decide to play along for now. But before I respond, I activate [Observe], focusing on her.

Name: Akane Matsuda

Quirk: Steel Grace

Description: Enhances physical flexibility and reaction speed. Skin becomes as durable as steel under stress. Moderate stamina cost.

Threat Level: C+

Role: Iron Fang Dojo Instructor.

A smirk tugs at my lips. Steel Grace, huh? That explains her confidence and why she's running a dojo in a place like this. She's got the skills and a quirk to back them up.

I relax my stance and glance at the students again. "I've been meaning to pick up some martial arts," I say. "Think you can teach me something useful?"

She tilts her head, studying me for a moment before responding. "That depends. Why do you want to learn?"

I shrug, keeping my tone light. "Self-defense, mostly. And maybe I'm just looking to try something new."

Akane's eyes narrow, as if she doesn't quite believe me, but she nods. "Alright. You can join a trial class. But if you're not serious, you're out."

"Deal," I say with a grin.

I nod and follow Akane as she leads me deeper into the dojo. The sound of strikes and the occasional barked instruction grows louder as we pass through the training area. The students glance my way, some with mild curiosity, others with annoyance at the distraction. I don't pay them much attention I'm more interested in the woman leading me.

Akane had a nice ass….

Akane stops near the far corner of the dojo, where an older man with a thick beard is watching a pair of students spar. His eyes are sharp despite his age, and there's an air of authority about him that immediately commands respect. He's clearly the real boss here.

"Sensei," Akane says, bowing slightly. "This is a new student interested in joining."

The man looks at me, his gaze assessing. I activate [Observe] out of habit.

Name: Hiroshi Tanaka

Quirk: Iron Will

Description: Can temporarily increase physical endurance and strength through sheer focus. Long-term use causes extreme fatigue.

Threat Level: B

Role: Iron Fang Dojo Master.

"New student, huh?" Hiroshi says, his deep voice carrying the weight of experience. "You don't look like much. What's your name, kid?"

"Manjiro," I reply, bowing slightly. "I heard about this place and thought I'd give it a shot."

Hiroshi chuckles, a low, rumbling sound. "A shot, huh? Most people don't wander in here just for a hobby. You got a reason?"

I glance at Akane, then back at Hiroshi. "Self-defense. And maybe I want to test myself a little."

Hiroshi raises an eyebrow, his sharp gaze studying me for a long moment. Finally, he nods. "Alright, Manjiro. Let's see what you're made of."

He gestures to an empty mat in the middle of the room. Akane steps aside, arms crossed, watching me closely.

"You'll spar with one of my students," Hiroshi says. "Show me you're serious, and we'll talk."

I step onto the mat, my heart pounding with anticipation. Sparring in a dojo like this is a far cry from the street fights I've been cleaning up lately. Still, with my system backing me up, I'm confident.

"Bring it on," I say, my voice steady.

Hiroshi smirks. "Akane, pick someone for him."

She nods and calls out to one of the students, a tall, muscular guy who looks like he's been training here for years. He steps onto the mat, cracking his knuckles.

"Name's Kenji," he says with a grin. "Try not to cry when you lose."

I smirk, activating [Observe].

Name: Kenji Nakamura

Quirk: Stone Fist

Description: Hardens fists to the density of stone, enhancing punching power.

Threat Level: C

Not bad, but nothing I can't handle. I stretch my arms, rolling my shoulders. "Let's see what you've got, Kenji."

Hiroshi steps forward. "Rules are simple: no quirks and no strikes to the face. First to yield loses. Understood?"

We both nod, and Hiroshi steps back, raising a hand. "Begin!"

Kenji lunges immediately, throwing a quick jab at my chest. I sidestep it with ease, my [Basic Agility Boost] kicking in. He follows up with a hook, but I block it, feeling the force behind his strike. He's strong, but predictable.

"Come on," I taunt. "You can do better than that."

Kenji growls, launching a flurry of punches. I weave around them, my reflexes sharpened by the system. As he overextends with a right hook, I step in, delivering a quick strike to his ribs.

He grunts, stumbling back, but recovers quickly. "Not bad," he admits. "But I'm just getting started."

He charges again, but this time, I decide to push him a bit further. As he swings, I parry his strike and sweep his legs out from under him. He hits the mat with a heavy thud, glaring up at me.

"Lesson one," I say, echoing my earlier words to the criminal. "Don't overcommit."

[Your NOT cool lil bro]

Kenji grits his teeth and gets back to his feet. The sparring continues, and while he's strong and experienced, my system-enhanced speed and instincts give me the edge. After a few more exchanges, I manage to pin him, twisting his arm into a hold he can't escape.

"Yield," I say calmly.

Kenji struggles for a moment, then sighs. "Fine. I yield."

Hiroshi claps his hands, stepping forward. "That's enough. Good work, both of you."

I release Kenji and help him up, earning a grudging nod of respect. Hiroshi looks at me, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You've got potential," he says. "Welcome to the Iron Fang Dojo."

-Later-

After finishing my schoolwork, I sat down on my bed, still unsure whether to switch my class or stick with the one I had. The temptation to try something new, like the Open Hero class, was strong, especially since it could offer unique benefits. But the Dark Hero class had already provided me with so many tools for stealth and combat. And then there was Lycanthropy King my quirk was still relatively weak, but the potential to improve it was too tempting to ignore.

I looked at my system interface and reviewed the available upgrade quest for Lycanthropy King.

(Upgrade Quest)

Objective: Defeat 50 criminals using Lycanthropy King or related abilities.

Reward: Lycanthropy King (Rank Up), New Ability: Primal Fury, Increased strength, endurance, and the potential for future transformations.

It seemed straightforward enough, but the quest had a significant challenge attached to it defeating 50 criminals, which would take some time. But upgrading my quirk would make me more powerful, and that could help me in future quests, especially if I wanted to tackle stronger opponents. Plus, with only about 10 months before my goal of entering UA, I knew I needed to make every day count.

I sighed and tapped on the quest.

"Alright, time to get to work," I muttered to myself, mentally preparing for the grind ahead.

I stood up, stretching my limbs. Lycanthropy King had served me well in the past, but I knew I had to refine my abilities if I wanted to face stronger threats. A powerful quirk would help me stand out, especially in a world full of powerful heroes and villains.

I decided to head out for the night. The city would be the perfect place to test myself.

-Akane-

Akane stood just outside the dojo, watching the sparring match between Manjiro and her mentor. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smile tugging at her lips as she observed his movements.

Manjiro was a teenager of below-average height, but what he lacked in stature, he made up for with his raw energy and determination. His pitch-black eyes were intense, constantly analyzing his opponent, while his long blonde hair, tied only at the top, flowed freely around his face, giving him a wild, untamed look. His gi was simple a plain white gi, a stark contrast to his striking appearance. The way he moved was fluid, a stark contrast to the unrefined technique he had when he first walked into the dojo just two weeks ago.

She couldn't help but think about how much he'd improved in such a short period. He was still rough around the edges, but his strikes were more controlled, and his reactions faster. He was getting better, day by day, and it was clear that his talent was pushing him toward something even greater.

Akane had been a part of this dojo for years, and she had seen many trainees come and go, but none quite like him. His drive to improve, to get stronger, to push past his limits it was like nothing she'd ever seen before. She knew he had the potential to become something extraordinary.

"He's getting better," Akane thought, a quiet pride swelling in her chest as she watched him block her mentor's strike and counter with a quick, well-timed jab. "I hope he keeps this up."

It was clear that Manjiro wasn't just training for the sake of it. There was something else driving him. But whatever that was, it seemed to be working.

She quietly stepped back, giving him space to finish his training. She hoped that his growth would continue, but more importantly, she hoped he'd find what he was looking for, whatever that was.

-Manjiro-

Manjiro staggered to his feet, sweat dripping from his brow as he wiped his hands on his gi. His muscles burned from the intense sparring session, but despite the fatigue, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. It had been a hard-fought battle, but he'd held his ground against Hiroshi, his mentor, pushing himself further than he had in weeks.

As he stood there, catching his breath, he noticed Hiroshi watching him with a subtle smirk. The old man had been tough on him, but it was clear now that he was impressed with the progress Manjiro had made in such a short amount of time.

At least one good thing came out of all this hard work, Manjiro thought to himself with a quiet sigh.

Opening his system window, he glanced at his progress.

[Martial Arts Proficiency: Adapt]

A new notification flickered into view, and Manjiro allowed himself a slight smile as he reviewed the martial arts skills he had unlocked. He was slowly but surely mastering the art, his system guiding him every step of the way. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.

[Basic Strike] (Rank E)

A foundational skill that enhances the user's basic punches and kicks, allowing for faster execution and more precise targeting. Increases speed and accuracy of strikes by 10%.

[Focused Kick] (Rank F)

An advanced kick technique that focuses energy into a single, powerful blow. Deals more damage to a single target, with a chance to stun.

[Counter Strike] (Rank E)

A defensive skill that allows the user to quickly counter an opponent's attack. Allows the user to parry an attack and immediately retaliate with a precise strike, reducing incoming damage by 20%.

[Pressure Point Strike] (Rank E)

Focuses on hitting vulnerable pressure points in the opponent's body. Temporarily disables an opponent's movements for a short time after a successful strike.

[Aerial Combat] (Rank D)

Specializes in fighting while in the air, using acrobatics and advanced aerial techniques. Increases attack and defense while performing flips, jumps, and aerial attacks by 30%.

[Martial Flow] (Rank D)

The ability to seamlessly flow from one martial art technique to the next. Reduces stamina consumption while performing combos, making it easier to chain attacks together.

[Iron Fist] (Rank C)

Increases the user's hand strength to strike with the power of hardened iron. Temporarily enhances the strength of the user's fist by 50% for a limited time.

[Evading Mastery] (Rank C)

A skill that improves the user's ability to avoid incoming attacks, enhancing reaction speed. Increases evasion rate by 25% and reduces damage taken from attacks by 15%.

[Tiger Claw] (Rank B)

A deadly claw-like strike aimed at the opponent's throat or vital areas, utilizing sharp hand movements. Causes severe bleeding and deals continuous damage for several seconds if it hits the neck or chest.

[Perfect Form] (Rank A)

A state where the user has perfected their martial arts stance, improving efficiency and reducing fatigue. Increases stamina recovery by 40% and reduces stamina cost of martial arts skills by 30%.

Before he could finish his thoughts, Hiroshi called out to him.

"You did good today, Manjiro," Hiroshi said, his voice gruff but tinged with approval. "Keep pushing. You've got a lot of potential."

Manjiro paused, looking at the old man. "Thanks, Hiroshi," he replied, a nod of appreciation in his voice.

With that, he turned toward the door, ready to leave. The training session had been grueling, but it had been worth it. His goal was still clear max out his skills before he entered UA, and he was getting closer with each passing day.

He exited the dojo, the cool air of the evening washing over him, but a sense of accomplishment lingered.

XxX

Manjiro Sano Current Stats

Name: Manjiro

Age: 14

Height: 5'4

Race: Human

Quirk: Lycanthropy King (Upgraded)

Class: Dark Hero - Apprentice

STR: B

END: C+

DEX: B

INT: D

WIS: D-

CHA: A

LCK: B

Honestly I don't know what the hell I'm doing with this one. The next time I write a chapter of this. So Manjiro lives in New York am I might include some of the marvel gangs still undecided.