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Chapter 2 – I'm a Hanma!?
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I stood still, watching as the two girls exchanged glances after having already looked me over. Seriously, I had no idea how to start a conversation, considering that just moments ago I had been one step away from death.
And I still couldn't understand how I had managed to survive, since the only thing I had done was rely on my instinct and my body—which seemed impossible, especially considering I had faced those bone monsters… or rather, the Grimm.
Every time I thought about what had happened, it felt unreal. How had I made it out of that situation? My body had reacted automatically, without me really controlling it.
It was like the fear and tension weren't in my mind anymore, but instead, there was a strange feeling—like a voice in my head telling me that I could never lose to such weak opponents.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of thinking about logical answers, since the two girls standing in front of me weren't exactly being subtle about wanting to talk.
But more than anything… were they blushing? It wasn't exactly obvious, but it was clear they were checking me out more than necessary, and I couldn't understand why—since, from what I remembered, I was the furthest thing from being called attractive.
Pyrrha was the first to break the silence, stepping forward with a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Pyrrha Nikos." She extended her hand courteously. "I don't remember seeing you last night, but that's not important. We heard loud battle noises and got worried someone might be in danger."
"Yeah, we thought someone could've been hurt, seeing all the Grimm heading this way…" The girl who looked like a female version of Jaune blurted out nervously, before stepping in front of me and giving me a good look.
She was incredibly awkward and avoided looking me in the eyes, a clear blush on her cheeks. "Um, I'm Jeanne Arc. I'm Pyrrha's partner."
Partner...? What the hell was going on? I hadn't even had time to understand where I was, and now I found myself thrown straight into the beginning of the series.
Just like I had ended up in an Isekai...
"U-uh… Thanks, but I already handled the situation on my own?" I said, trying to avoid further problematic questions.
After all, I wasn't part of their school initiation. And I absolutely needed time to think, get my bearings, and figure out a way out of this damn situation.
"Ew, it really looks like that," Jeanne scratched her head—an honestly very cute gesture.
"That's for the best," Pyrrha let out a small laugh and gave me a quick once-over. "But I'm not surprised—you've got an impressive build."Her eyes lingered on me, and I couldn't help but blink in confusion, since from what I remembered, I wasn't anything special.
For the moment, I decided to put all questions aside—there were more urgent things to worry about. So I cleared my throat and stepped forward, knowing I needed to take control of the situation.
"Thanks. My name's Cole. Cole Mercer. Nice to meet you, guys… I guess?" I said with a small wave of my hand as a greeting.
After all, they were my only way out of that forest in one piece. And to be honest, I still had a lot of doubts about how I'd managed to take down all those Grimm by myself.
I didn't have a sentient system like the ones you see in some manhwa, or a powerful special weapon that does all the work for you, or even some kind of weird power.
It was just me. Me, and my old body.
Pyrrha stepped forward. "Anyway, Cole, it's a pleasure to meet you. Considering the Grimm remains scattered around you, I'd say you fight pretty well. It's a shame you haven't found your partner yet."
"Uh… thanks?" I replied, uncertain, scratching the back of my neck.
I still didn't really know what to do. Maybe it would be better to play along until the end of the initiation—at least until I found a way to get out of that forest.
And then… was it possible that I could unlock my Aura, just like them? Honestly, it was the only thing that came to mind if I wanted to survive in case I had to face stronger Grimm.
Aura, in this world, was the tangible manifestation of the soul: an energy that enveloped the body, acting as a shield against physical damage while also providing a regenerative ability, even if limited.
And surely, having access to such a resource would've made me feel a lot more at ease—it would be incredibly useful, especially in a hostile environment like the one I found myself in.
"More than anything, I didn't expect to meet someone else with my same hair color. In Mistral, only my family has it," Pyrrha said with a knowing smile.
I tilted my head, confused. "Huh?" I was surprised by Pyrrha's words. I had never seriously practiced any sport in my previous life, and yet, apparently, I now had a physique that couldn't go unnoticed.
And more importantly—I definitely didn't have red hair!A sense of urgency hit me, almost like an instinct pushing me to confirm what I had just heard from her.
"Jeanne, let me borrow your shield for a second." She gave me a puzzled look, but handed it over without asking too many questions.
I turned it around, using it as a makeshift mirror, and what I saw left me speechless.Staring back at me was an incredibly muscular body—not over-the-top, sure—but still sculpted enough to be clearly noticeable, regardless of the strange clothes I was wearing at the moment.
Broad shoulders, an imposing chest, perfectly defined abs, a relatively slim waist, long and powerful legs, sculpted arms with muscles that tensed at the slightest movement…
It was the body of a born warrior.
A physique that didn't need confirmation—because it spoke for itself.
I looked at myself for a moment, letting my gaze run over the clothes I was wearing. The first thing that caught the eye was the deep red fabric tied around my waist, a sort of battle sash that fell in uneven folds along my legs, held together at the edges with a jagged white decoration running down the center.
Underneath it, my pants were wide and sturdy, made of a matte black material that absorbed the light, revealing only the bare minimum of their durable fabric—clearly designed for movement, perfect for a fighter who needed to be fast and deadly at the same time.
I practically looked like a warrior straight out of a fantasy novel or a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
I tried to ignore it all, leaning in slightly toward the reflection to better examine the details of my face and body. My skin, slightly tanned, had a warm golden tone, as if it had been forged under the sun.
My features were sharp, almost carved from stone, with a strong jawline and a piercing gaze that seemed able to see through people.
But the surprise didn't stop there. Unlike the original me, who had plain brown hair, I now sported a dark red mane—wild and blazing, like a wildfire that refused to be tamed.
My eyes, just as red, gleamed with an intense and unwavering light, while my eyebrows—thin but well-defined—radiated confidence and determination.
The eyebrows of a character I knew.
I was a damn Hanma!
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. It wasn't just my appearance—suddenly, everything made sense: my new combat instinct, the natural way I moved, the nearly absurd ability to survive those Grimm attacks that would've easily killed a normal person multiple times.
Now I knew why.
This explained everything.
The Hanma—whether Yujiro or Baki—aren't just ordinary human beings. They're something more—something different. From the outside, you might say they look like men… but inside? Inside, they're monsters wrapped in flesh.
A race apart. A new species, in the truest sense of the word.
Their strength comes from a perfect blend of genetics and training. No one else in the world could even come close to what a Hanma can do.
Their feats defy the laws of physics.
And now… I had become one of them.
I wasn't an exact copy of Yujiro Hanma, of course. But the resemblance was undeniable. His blood ran through my veins—whether I liked it or not.
And then there was one question that haunted me:
Could I still even consider this… my body? I remembered clearly from the manga that a Hanma's muscle tissue wasn't normal. It was incredibly dense, compacted to the edge of possibility.
It was said that a Hanma's muscles were 52 times more compact than those of a normal person. And that meant my strength far surpassed anything a regular human could manage.
But it wasn't just about muscles.
The bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments were also enhanced—four times more resistant than normal. Even the nerves had changed. They were no longer just strands of organic tissue—they were made of a hyper-conductive material, designed to transmit impulses at insane speeds, raising reflexes to nearly superhuman levels.
And then there were two traits that couldn't be ignored:
The Demon Back. And the Demon Brain…
I didn't know how I ended up in this situation with this body, or why it happened. But one thing was certain: I had changed. And somehow, I'd have to come to terms with it.
I lowered the shield and took a deep breath. My body was already incredible as it was, but I knew there was still room for improvement—and that was the only good news in this whole damn situation.
"Everyone in my family also has red hair, along with some rather fortunate genetics," I said, trying not to reveal too much.
It wasn't entirely a lie...
"Huh?" Jeanne made a cute noise, widening her eyes as she kept glancing back and forth between me and Pyrrha. "You two look so alike that someone might think you're siblings." She paused, then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're not actually related, are you?"
I cleared my throat, trying to maintain a neutral expression. "Not that I know of…" I replied, raising my hands in an innocent gesture. "But apparently the universe has a taste for messing with people in unpredictable ways."
Pyrrha crossed her arms, with the same knowing smile from before on her lips. "Or maybe he's messing with us," she said, glancing at me from the side. "You could even be a secret cousin of mine who grew up in another dimension, who knows."
Jeanne's eyes widened even more. "No, wait… now that I think about it… even the way you two talk, the tone… it's weirdly similar!"
"Hey, hey, calm down," I said, laughing nervously. "Are you really trying to make me out as some kind of interdimensional clone or something?"
Jeanne bit her lip, then slowly turned toward Pyrrha. "What if he's like… a reincarnation of your long-lost warrior great-grandfather?" she suggested with a mischievous smile.
At that point, we all burst out laughing at the absurdity of the idea; they really were a couple of crazy girls, able to joke around even in a place like this—and I was no different.
After a brief pause, I hesitated for a moment before speaking, carefully choosing my words. "Can I join you? Just to be safe… I'm currently alone, and I'm not even sure if I'm the only one left without a partner."
Pyrrha nodded without hesitation—not surprising, since she was the best girl in the entire show. "Of course, but we need to move quickly. Those relics won't find themselves."
"Sounds like a good plan," I said, trying to hide a slight smile. Plus, spending some time with a red-haired beauty like her would at least distract me from other worries.
"Yeah, moving around alone in this forest isn't exactly ideal," Jeanne pointed out. "Better to stick together, even if the professors are definitely watching us. If we mess up the pairings, we could end up ruining everything."
Pyrrha nodded slowly, showing a sincere sign of approval. "You're right, Jeanne. That's a very mature and responsible thought," she said with a gentle smile, making the blonde blush slightly, visibly embarrassed by the unexpected compliment.
Then she turned to me: "Alright, I hope we'll all end up on the same team in the end."
"I'm sure we will," Jeanne said with a conviction that, for some reason, was hard to doubt.
I smiled back. "I hope so too."
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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 1 advanced chapters
Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic) 1 advanced chapters
Son of Li Qiye?: 2 advanced chapters
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Chapter- 16: Shocker - Chapter- 17 (Incoming)
Chapter- 22: Interlude - My Greatest Creation
Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown
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