The sun had barely risen over the dense forest when the Wild, Wild Pussycats gathered Class 1-A for their first real day of training.
Most of the students were still waking up, rubbing their eyes as they lined up in front of the Pro Heroes.
Reiji?
He was already wide awake, arms crossed, watching the instructors with mild interest.
Pixie-Bob, the most energetic of the Pussycats, grinned as she clapped her hands. "Alright, kids! Today's training is all about pushing your Quirks to the next level!"
"Your goal," Mandalay continued, "is to extend your limits and gain more control over your abilities."
Tiger flexed his massive muscles. "That means brutal physical training! You'll be cursing your own existence by the end of the day!"
Some students groaned.
Kaminari muttered, "I already wanna go home."
Reiji smirked.
[Finally. Let's see what they've got.]
Reiji's Training Assignment
Unlike the others, who were paired into specific drills, Reiji was assigned to a more personal evaluation.
Mandalay walked over, arms crossed.
"You're already strong," she admitted. "But your fighting style is… unorthodox."
Reiji chuckled. "Is that a nice way of saying I fight like a villain?"
Mandalay narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You lack refinement. You fight instinctively, which is good… but it's also dangerous. If you ever face someone just as ruthless as you—"
Reiji smirked. "I win."
Mandalay sighed.
"Let's see about that."
She gestured toward a clearing, where Tiger was waiting.
"You'll be sparring against him today," she said. "Try not to get broken in half."
Reiji glanced at Tiger, who grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"Oh," Reiji muttered. "This might actually be fun."
Reiji vs. Tiger – Power vs. Speed
The sparring field was set.
Reiji stood on one side, rolling his shoulders lazily, golden flames flickering at his fingertips.
Tiger stood on the opposite side, dropping into a flexible combat stance.
"Alright, kid," Tiger grinned. "You rely a lot on raw strength and aggression. But can you handle someone who's just as strong—and just as fast?"
Reiji smirked. "Guess we'll find out."
Then—Tiger moved.
Brutal Combat Training
Unlike Hawks, who fought with speed and precision, Tiger was a powerhouse.
The moment the match started—he was in Reiji's face.
BOOM!
A massive palm strike shot toward Reiji's chest.
FWOOOM!
Reiji dodged just in time, Phantom Step activating as he teleported behind Tiger.
[Too slow.]
Reiji's fist ignited, aiming for Tiger's ribs.
But—
Tiger twisted his entire body like a whip, dodging mid-air.
Reiji's eyes flickered in surprise.
[What—?]
Then—a brutal counterattack.
Tiger's leg shot out, catching Reiji in the stomach.
BOOM!
The impact sent Reiji skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt.
The class, watching from a distance, gasped.
"Damn!" Kirishima muttered. "Even Reiji got knocked back?"
Bakugo gritted his teeth. "Tch. He'll get serious now."
Reiji wiped a streak of dirt from his cheek, golden flames flickering violently.
Then—he grinned.
"Not bad, old man."
Tiger smirked. "Come on then, kid. Show me what you got."
Pushing His Limits
Reiji knew he couldn't overpower Tiger with brute force alone.
So he switched tactics.
Using Phantom Step, he blurred in and out of range, forcing Tiger to guess his movements.
Every attack got closer.
Every punch forced Tiger to react faster.
Then—
Reiji saw his opening.
[There!]
BOOM!
His Hellfire-coated punch slammed into Tiger's side.
The force shook the entire clearing.
Tiger staggered back slightly, exhaling.
For a moment—silence.
Then—Tiger grinned.
"Good hit."
Reiji smirked. "I know."
Then—Tiger charged again.
The fight continued, both of them exchanging brutal blows, neither backing down.
And for the first time—Reiji felt like he was actually learning something.
Meanwhile – The League of Villains' Plan
Far from the training camp, deep within the forest, Dabi and Toga watched the camp from a distance.
Toga giggled. "Look at them! So happy, so peaceful~! Can I stab them now?"
Dabi rolled his eyes. "Not yet."
Shigaraki stood nearby, fingers twitching slightly.
His red eyes flickered toward the camp, but his focus wasn't on the class.
It was on one person.
"Kurobane," he muttered.
Dabi raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"
Shigaraki scratched his neck. "He's dangerous. More than the others."
Toga grinned. "Maybe he's like us?"
Shigaraki didn't answer immediately.
Then, slowly, a grin formed on his lips.
"We'll find out soon enough."
End of the Day – Reflection
As the sun set over the training camp, Class 1-A gathered near the lodge, completely exhausted.
Reiji sat near the edge of the group, arms crossed, thinking back to the sparring session.
He wasn't invincible.
Tiger had proven that.
But more importantly—he could get stronger.
Then, Mandalay walked over.
"You handled yourself well today," she said.
Reiji smirked. "Of course."
But Mandalay didn't look amused.
"You know… Kota was watching you."
Reiji blinked. "The brat?"
Mandalay nodded. "You're not exactly… the type of hero he trusts. But maybe, just maybe, you can show him that not all heroes are bad."
Reiji stayed silent.
Then—he shrugged.
"Not my problem."
Mandalay sighed. "I thought you'd say that."
She turned away. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's training will be even harder."
Reiji leaned back against the tree, golden eyes glowing in the moonlight.
The League was watching.
His classmates were doubting him.
And now?
Even a kid who hated heroes was paying attention to him.
[Heh. This training camp might actually be interesting.]
End of Chapter 33.
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️