Chapter 16: The Demon

Rock Lee was doing squats with a massive boulder on his back, following the system's orders—specifically, the first of the hellish exercises. On top of that, after consuming a white pill filled with mysterious herbs, rich in nutrients and stimulants, the thick-browed youth began to change before his very eyes.

First, his black hair grew slightly longer, tousled wildly, while his braid unraveled, revealing hardened locks with metallic tips. Then, his fingernails stretched rapidly, transforming into sharp claws like those of a wild beast. A pure silver aura ignited around Lee's body, seeping into his muscles and bones, reinforcing them. A surge of strength filled him—enough to move mountains, if one were to speak metaphorically.

Yet, he had no time to bask in this power. Gritting his teeth, Lee threw himself into training with reckless abandon, as if chasing his own demise—just like always!

But don't laugh—Rock couldn't even cheat the system. Initially, he had tried to find a small stone to place on his back, but the system had other plans. It simply conjured a massive boulder out of thin air, slamming it onto his shoulders with enough force to rattle his spine. Yet, was he the kind of man to surrender? Never!

And so, gravity pressed down on him even harder. His legs nearly buckled, threatening to snap like twigs, but he managed to stabilize himself, despite nearly sinking into the loose earth beneath him. The ground itself seemed to rebel against his increasing weight, but did anyone ask for its opinion? Of course not.

Rock Lee continued his desperate squats—up and down, crack after crack, stretching his muscles and clenching his teeth. Sweat poured from every pore, drenching his coal-black hair, which now gleamed with an unnatural sheen. Such was the magic of raw masculinity—the relentless will of a man who refused to be broken!

"Come on… this pill… what the hell is it doing to me? Heh-heh-heh… Why do I… feel so good?…"

With that thought, a twisted grin spread across Lee's face, a crazed mix of exhilaration and self-mockery. A demon seemed to be clawing its way out of him, his features contorted in a delirious trance. His entire body screamed in pain—his pelvic muscles, thighs, calves, and feet burned in an unrelenting agony. And yet, an overwhelming euphoria consumed him.

"Heh-heh-heh… Heh-heh-heh… Damn… Training under the influence… is amazing!"

His grin widened unnaturally, stretching his expression into something inhuman. He had lost count. The world around him spun, flipping upside down with every breath. How many squats had he done? Ten? Twenty? Fifty? Wait, wasn't that way too many? This was beyond his normal limit!

What had that white pill done to him?!

System notifications swarmed him, but Lee ignored them completely. No time for that. His body, acting purely on instinct, transitioned seamlessly into the second hellish exercise—pull-ups. Straightening his posture, he tossed aside the massive rock from his back, which immediately disintegrated into digital dust and vanished into the wind. A mere illusion.

Now, he felt stronger—no, he was stronger. And he wanted more. More, more, and more. He couldn't stop. He had to break his body apart and rebuild it into an unshakable fortress, like a creator sculpting his own reality. His vision blurred, but his instincts kept him searching for something—anything—to grab onto for pull-ups.

"Pull-ups… Pull-ups… Pull-ups…"

His thoughts emptied, leaving only a blank slate behind. Yet, even in this half-conscious state, his body continued to move—working tirelessly like an unstoppable machine, like a cybernetic warrior with no concept of limits. He latched onto tree branches scattered throughout the training grounds, only for them to snap one after another, unable to bear his enhanced weight under the system's crushing gravity.

The system had to intervene again, materializing a sturdy steel pull-up bar before him. Lee launched himself at it instantly, gripping the cold metal with vacant, white eyes devoid of pupils, and began pulling himself up… probably about a hundred times in the end.

[Name: Rock Lee]

[Shinobi Rank: Genin]

[Health: ???%]

[Stamina: ???%]

[Chakra: ???%]

[Taijutsu Rank: C+]

[Ninjutsu Rank: —]

[Genjutsu Rank: —]

[Inventory]

[Achievements]

[List of Hellish Exercises: ???]

[Bronze Chest Rewards]

– 20,000 Ryo

– Fūma Shuriken

– Healing Ointment

– Rokushiki Style: Kami-e

[Bronze Chest Rewards]

– 20,000 Ryo

– Steel Shield

– White Pill

– Impulse

Lee collapsed, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt.

His body sprawled across the ground, motionless like a discarded ragdoll, his mind teetering between consciousness and oblivion. That so-called "special-class pill" had turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. His body had been drained, reduced to a shriveled husk with deep-set eyes and dark circles so pronounced they seemed to plead for mercy—not just for sleep, but for a coma lasting several months. The system had lied. There were consequences.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

Lee let out a hoarse laugh, his mind finally regaining clarity, though his body refused to move. He could barely lift his head, dragging himself along the ground like a snake.

"If you're gonna befriend a viper, best keep a stick in hand…" he thought bitterly. "System, please—no more pills. I've had enough of this madness."

Mustering the last scraps of his strength, he flipped onto his stomach and focused his chakra into his limbs. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up, fingers digging into the dirt for leverage.

Yet, not everything was as bad as it seemed. Yes, he was exhausted, but not in the same way the regular black stimulant pills had left him before. His plan had technically worked—the exercises were complete. But at what cost? His sanity? Disgusting.

Grimacing, Lee pulled out his healing ointments, tearing them open and smearing the soothing balm across his battered hands. A refreshing warmth spread through his skin, tingling slightly as his nerves awakened.

Night was approaching, and he knew that if he wanted to learn any new techniques from the system and still impress Guy-sensei during his evaluation, sleep wasn't an option. Not now, not ever. Such were the risks. Such was the struggle. But at least he was no longer some deranged berserker, no longer lost in a state of faceless, masochistic madness. He had returned—escaped from hell itself.

"White pills are a nightmare. Drugs are evil."

That was the only conclusion the thick-browed shinobi could reach, his dust-covered face making his eyebrows look like scruffy little pine trees. Amusing, but not the point. What mattered now was that his mind had cleared, allowing fragments of memory to settle—detailed recollections of the training for Kami-e and Impulse.

Kami-e—the technique that made one's body as fluid as a drifting sheet of paper, an essential skill within the Rokushiki style. And Lee already had experience with it, much like his deadly, now-forbidden Rankyaku, which had been banned by both Hokage and Gai due to its sheer lethality…

A green leaf drifted down before him, gracefully avoiding every obstacle.

Just like Kami-e.

A perfect resemblance, wasn't it?

P.s: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 27+ at patreon.com/c/Lucius01

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