"I Reincarnated in Boku no Hero but They Forgot to Give Me a System"

Chapter 16 — The Path of Monsters

The sun had already slipped behind the towering buildings of Musutafu, setting the sky ablaze with deep oranges and fiery reds that seemed to ignite the clouds themselves. Perched atop a quiet hill far from the city's noise and chaos, Aoi drew a deep breath, feeling the hot air fill his lungs. Sweat trickled from his chin, dripping onto the sun-warmed stones beneath his bare feet.

The past three hours had been grueling. Each second had tested his limits, pushing him further than ever before. He kicked through the air while airborne, soaring up and descending with fierce determination, the blue flames dancing silently around his feet, a ghostly trail of power and will. Every movement was a delicate balance — too little control meant crashing, too much hesitation meant losing momentum. His reflexes sharpened with every leap; his eyes tracked even the smallest leaf swaying on the breeze as if it were a deadly projectile hurled to challenge him.

"Alright," he murmured to himself, voice steady despite the exhaustion. "I can already fly with stability. I can keep rhythm with my kicks… but now, it's time to really begin."

With renewed focus, he flexed his knees and propelled himself skyward with all the strength his young body could muster. Suddenly, the flames at his feet flickered out, and he plummeted in a terrifying free fall. The wind whipped past his face, the world rushing closer with terrifying speed.

At the last possible moment, he thrust his leg forward, delivering a powerful kick into the empty air. The blue flames roared back to life, pushing him upward once more.

"Geppo," he whispered, a spark of triumph lighting his tired eyes.

The smile that broke across his face was small — but it carried the weight of a thousand hopes. It wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it was happening. He was flying.

The training resumed with relentless intensity. Jumps, spins, rapid-fire thrusts, evasive maneuvers — each motion a testament to his will. Between bursts of aerial combat, he took brief moments to work on sheer strength: push-ups weighted with a ton strapped to his back, fists pounding rocks until they cracked, sprints at full speed dragging heavy chains.

Each of the Rokushiki techniques presented a fresh challenge.

Shigan — the precise, lethal strike, capable of piercing flesh like a bullet.

Tekkai — the absolute hardening of the body, turning muscle and bone into impenetrable stone.

Soru — movements so fast they blur, vanishing from sight.

Kami-e — the art of relaxation so deep the body flows like water, evading attacks effortlessly.

Geppo — mastery over the air, the power to fly with grace and control.

Rankyaku — the kick sharp enough to slice the wind itself.

He had yet to possess the monstrous strength of legends like Garp, Lucci, and Jinbe — warriors who lifted entire ships with their bare hands, shattered mountains with a single punch, and tore through the sky with devastating kicks.

But he was on the path.

Hours passed. Five, then six. His limbs screamed with fatigue, muscles burning like fire beneath his skin. At last, Aoi collapsed onto the cold stone ground, breath ragged, sweat pouring off him in torrents.

Above, the night sky stretched vast and endless, a tapestry of stars blinking quietly in the darkness.

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, gazing down at his calloused, dirt-streaked hands.

"These monsters…" he rasped, voice raw from effort. "They lifted ships, shattered mountains, tore through the sky with their feet…"

He inhaled deeply, the cool night air filling his lungs as if to steel his resolve.

"No matter how many styles I master, if I don't have the strength… all of it will mean nothing."

His eyes closed, mind steadying, heart blazing with silent determination.

"New goal," he vowed to himself. "Fifty tons.

Only after that… do I start training to be like them."

It wasn't just about physical power. It was about focus. Discipline. The unspoken promise that he would never — ever — give up.

Here, under the canopy of a million stars, with his body battered but his spirit aflame, Aoi knew exactly who he wanted to become.

He was still just a five-year-old boy.

But already… he had chosen his destiny:

To become a true monster.