The First Human Limit — Breakthrough
Although young, Chen Xing's physique radiated an uncanny strength. His pale skin gleamed faintly in the mist, his lean muscles flowing like coiled dragons beneath the surface — powerful, balanced, and naturally defined.
Suddenly, the boy's body stirred. His eyes remained shut, but his hands came together before his chest, fingers locking into a strange seal. The muscles along his torso began to pulse rhythmically, each contraction echoing like a heartbeat against the thunder of the nearby waterfall.
Boom… boom…
The sound of the falling water merged with the deep, steady rhythm of his body. The contractions grew faster — more intense — until every fiber of muscle moved in perfect unison, driving blood through his veins at a speed far beyond human limits.
If not for the roar of the waterfall, the eerie sounds of his internal organs vibrating from the strain would have been audible.
Sweat and water mixed on his skin until they were indistinguishable. His entire body trembled as if straining against invisible pressure.
Steam began to rise from his flesh — a visible haze of heat. His breathing deepened, but he did not open his eyes.
Then came a sharp, muffled groan.
"Hnnngh…"
His heartbeat thundered, his blood surging like molten fire. The temperature around him rose, the mist thickening into a faint crimson fog that coiled around his body.
He had entered the critical point.
Minutes passed — or perhaps hours. Chen Xing could no longer tell. His consciousness was focused entirely inward, wrestling against the boundaries of his own physical limits.
The veins in his neck bulged; his skin flushed red. The rhythmic pulsing of muscle and chakra reached its peak. His breathing grew ragged — each inhale sharp, each exhale forced.
"Khh… ngh…"
Even his jaw trembled, teeth clenched tight as his body screamed in protest.
He could feel it — the barrier between man and monster, between human endurance and the next stage of physical evolution.
"Break… through!!!"
With a roar, Chen Xing's body erupted. A deep, thunderous boom echoed through the valley as a surge of chakra burst outward, scattering the mist. The suffocating pressure lifted instantly.
For a moment, everything was silent — then his triumphant shout pierced the roar of the waterfall.
"Haaahhh!!!"
His voice rolled across the valley, scattering flocks of birds and sending animals fleeing in panic.
"Haha! I finally did it!"
Chen Xing laughed loudly, his tone filled with exhilaration.
He rose to his feet and stretched, bones popping audibly as if his entire skeleton were adjusting to newfound strength. His body felt lighter, sharper, infinitely stronger.
"This power… it's easily several times greater than before."
He clenched both fists, his forearms flexing as defined cords of muscle rippled beneath the skin. The raw vitality radiating from him was almost tangible.
This young man — Chen Xing — had finally broken through what he called the First Human Limit.
After months of training in the hidden valley of the Bear Country, he had crossed a threshold few shinobi could even sense. His physique had transcended normal human capability — his strength now comparable to elite-level taijutsu masters.
If he could fully synchronize this newfound power with his chakra flow, he would stand at the level of a Kage-class combatant, at least in close-quarters ability.
Chen Xing took a step forward, his foot barely touching the surface of the river below. Chakra flowed instinctively into the soles of his feet — he walked across the water as easily as solid ground.
"Hah!"
He threw a punch.
The air itself cracked.
A shockwave exploded outward, rippling across the water's surface in concentric circles. The boulder in front of him shattered instantly into fragments, spraying debris into the river.
"Boom!!!"
The sheer force of that single blow — without even using chakra — was staggering.
Chen Xing lowered his fist and smiled faintly.
"As I thought… my strength and speed are on a whole new level. This body could rival even the Raikage's Lightning Armor in raw power."
Satisfied, he nodded and stepped back toward the water's edge.
---
Lightning Release — Spiral Lance
The next morning, the valley was wrapped in cool mist. Though it was May and the outside world was warming, the dense vapor of the waterfall kept this secluded place refreshingly cold.
After breakfast, Chen Xing walked toward the pool below the falls. Red Fang watched lazily from the rocks nearby as Chen Xing dove straight into the water, sinking several meters deep.
The chilling pressure of the current wrapped around him, but he didn't flinch. His body had long adapted beyond the endurance of ordinary shinobi.
Underwater, his eyes snapped open. Chakra surged.
Zzzzzttt—!
Lightning crackled around his arm, illuminating the depths with blinding light.
"Raiton… Spiral Formation."
Electricity danced through the pool as he focused chakra into his right hand, compressing it to a lethal degree. The current twisted into a rotating cone of pure energy — a dense, spiraling spear of lightning that distorted the surrounding water into a violent vortex.
The pool churned wildly. Water erupted upward as arcs of electricity surged through the air, even overpowering the constant roar of the waterfall.
The concentrated chakra solidified — a Lightning Release: Spiral Lance — shaped like a glowing drill. Its high-speed rotation and piercing power could rival the Rasengan's destructive force.
"Spiral Lance!"
Chen Xing's figure vanished in a flash of blue light, propelling himself forward like a thunderbolt.
BOOM!!!
The Spiral Lance tore through the waterfall and slammed into the mountain rock behind it, sending a deafening explosion echoing through the valley. Stone and water blasted outward in a blinding burst of energy.
When the dust settled, a deep crater was carved into the cliffside — still sparking faintly with residual lightning.
Chen Xing floated back to the surface, exhaling slowly.
"Control's still rough… but the power is incredible."
He looked at his sparking hand, a satisfied smile forming.
"Once I master this technique, even the strongest defense won't stop me."