History TookALevelInBadass / FanWorks

* While in ''Fanfic/TheWizardInTheShadows'', Harry has mostly done his levelling offscreen by the time the story starts, it is quite something to contrast the already badass Boy-Who-Lived to what he is after four years trapped in Middle Earth in the run up to the War of the Ring: an absurdly - by human standards - fast KnifeNut, an extremely powerful wizard who is more than willing to kill and capable of going toe to toe with the Nazgul - he actively hunts them, and TheDreaded for everything evil in Middle Earth for very good reason, whispered of as 'The Black Wizard'. As noted by the author, this is largely justified by the Kill or be Killed nature of late Third Age Middle-Earth.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1469350/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Key-of-Dagon Harry Potter and the Key of Dagon]]'', Dawn receives training in magic at Hogwarts after the Scoobies learn that Ginny has become a Slayer as a result of the mass activation spell.

* In the ''Literature/{{Worm}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'' altpower crossover ''Fanfic/{{Wonderful}}'', thanks to [[TheHero Taylor]]'s [[PoweredArmor suits]] increasing strength, speed... many characters become badasses (Emma goes from being an average girl to smashing a tank with a mop) or increase their badassery (Sophia).

[[AC:''WebAnimation/{{Hololive}}]]

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonTitansAndOtherCreatures Vivienne Graham]] ultimately goes through this over the story's first several chapters after she's [[InhumanHuman brought back]] as [[TwoBeingsOneBody half of Monster X]]; thanks to a severe PTSD-inducing TraumaCongaLine, being forced to kill human assholes in the form of Alan Jonah's mercs, and being pushed past her limits in more ways than one. Other characters can see the change in her eyes.

[[AC:''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'']]

** In Chapter 29, [[spoiler:the Plain Doll is shown to crush three traitorous guards without lifting a finger. [[{{Understatement}} It seems that the time of being a great one's caretaker has given her quite the attitude]].]]

* In the Fanfic/ChanceEncounter series, Paris, Helen and Briseis, the former becoming a skilled archer, the latter two being skilled swordswomen, and Balian takes a subtle one, picking up a bunch of new moves from the Fellowship and moving more smoothly in battle, going from ordinary BadassNormal levels to, while under mind control and what could be considered a SuperpoweredEvilSide, fighting ''Legolas'', who is considered to be the hallmark of badassery in the series, to a standstill.
* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', ''[[WorldOfBadass everyone]]'' seems to have taken one. Everyone is closer to comics power levels, Thor and Loki most noticeably, Clint only has the real life Legolas to compete with him for the title of best shot in the Nine Realms and Tony is stated to have [[CurbstompBattle curbstomped]] Volstagg in an offscreen sparring match (mitigating factor: Volstagg held back because he wasn't sure how tough Tony was in his armour) and Fury is stated to be the reason Lucius Malfoy walks with a limp and a walking stick.
** The Winter Soldier, already a badass, has become TheDreaded, a terrifying OneManArmy. Previous feats include one shotting a former [[PhysicalGod Captain Britain]] (granted, with a high powered rifle and a special bullet) and mowing through two squads of Europe's finest Aurors. On screen, he's killed a Nundu (takes 100 Wizards to subdue) and a Chimera without taking a scratch or even slowing down, mows through a number of extremely well trained soldiers, including a two second take down of [[spoiler: James fucking Bond]], tears through [=MI13=], takes on Black Widow, Hawkeye and Captain America ''at once'' and ''wins'', taking the first two out with a booby trap and ends up almost [[HoistByHisOwnPetard beating Cap to death with his own shield]], kills an enhanced werewolf the size of a car with his ''bare hands'', then [[spoiler: carrying Carol Danvers down a treacherous mountain in a ferocious storm before she got frostbite.]] He justly earns both Loki's assessment as possibly the deadliest assassin in the Nine Realms and the comparisons to immortal assassin, Jared 'The Hellhound' Kincaid.
*** In chapter 70, he takes on, in succession, a couple of dozen or so Aurors and Ministry personnel in an assault on the Ministry itself, a couple of dozen SHIELD Agents on the Helicarrier, Captain America, Black Widow ''and'' Hawkeye ''at the same time'' on the now sinking Helicarrier, multiple Secret Service Agents in an assault on the White House, and Wolverine - the latter in a KnifeFight, while carrying multiple broken ribs. And he does this while [[spoiler: holding back to spare as many people as possible]].
** Malfoy is the reason Fury only has one eye, and is currently coordinating an alliance between HYDRA, a necromancer called Gravemoss and the Death Eaters, organising the theft of the Turin Shroud as a ''distraction'' from the theft of [[ArtifactOfDoom the]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Darkhold]] from one of the highest security vaults on the planet, systematically [[spoiler: having [=MI6=] and [=MI13=], the paranormal security service]] destroyed, and when one of these does not go according to plan, he reminds Baron Von Strucker who's boss, [[XanatosSpeedChess then leaves SHIELD and other security services to take out less competent Death Eaters, distracting their attention from him and granting him control of the finances of the deceased Death Eaters.]] He then removes Von Strucker, takes control of the Winter Soldier, and with him, HYDRA, before developing into a bona fide EvilOverlord by chapter 74, having neutralised the Avengers, crippled SHIELD, [[spoiler: stolen multiple ''tons'' of Vibranium]] and sauntered into the UN to extract the surrender of the world, backed up by [[spoiler: a now Vibranium hulled teleporting Helicarrier]]. While the backlash the following chapter is epic, there's no denying that he's badass.
** Harry. Oh, Harry. Within a year of linear time (his body and mind are separated for six additional months in [[YearInsideHourOutside the Nevernever]]), he goes from shell-shocked 13 year old ActionSurvivor and incipient GuileHero, to high end PersonOfMassDestruction with vast PsychicPowers, SuperSoldier level physical abilities, and the combat skills of [[spoiler: the Winter Soldier]], with a developing capacity for XanatosSpeedChess, and [[spoiler: the Phoenix Force]] on call. However, the latter makes him an unwilling ApocalypseMaiden, and the road taken to gain all these levels in badass leaves him hideously traumatised, and scarred both physically and mentally.
** All of the kids take a level or several dozen over the first two books: Diana goes from being able to fly somewhat with some SuperStrength to being able to one-shot a demon of the sort that previously took an orbital strike to cripple, let alone kill, Uhtred goes from an ArrogantKungFuGuy to a wise and thoughtful young warrior who goes axe to claws with Grey Court Master Vampire [[VoluntaryShapeshifting in the form of]] [[BearsAreBadNews a gigantic bear]] that had ''the Winter Soldier'' worried and ''winning'', Jean-Paul goes from FragileSpeedster to a ruthless version of the Flash and SpearCounterpart to the Black Widow, while Carol goes from ordinary teenage girl to - temporarily - [[spoiler: the Green Lantern, a right she earned by ''being too stubborn to die'']], and more generally distinguishes herself with her skills as TheStrategist and abilities as a SuperSoldier (coming from a temporary enhancement that stuck [[spoiler: because she's Steve's great-granddaughter]]). How? By being alongside all the others, who are ''even more powerful'' thanks to a PlotRelevantAgeUp in chapter 59 of the first book, and nevertheless being considered the main threat by the Winter Soldier himself.
* The Naruto/Justice League Crossover ''FanFic/ConnectingTheDots'' does this to most of the Konoha 11, but especially to Tenten. You remember Tenten? Trust me. Not this one.
* The Simpsons/Futurama crossover ''Fast Forward'' has pretty much ''all the main characters'' of either show take major levels in badass (with the exception of Leela, given she was pretty badass to begin with), due to Bender gaining a weaponry upgrade and the human characters ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Zoidberg]]) gaining a Farnsworth-made upgrade: their own customized, stylish, Transformers-style suit of PoweredArmour.

* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'', due to YearInsideHourOutside training and applied phlebotinum, Kyon keeps taking level after level in badass. It's nearing MemeticBadass status within the story itself.
* In the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and Harry Potter crossover Professor Takamachi, Nanoha manages to do this with a lot of Hogwarts students through a simple means. Physical training to increase physical and magical stamina, math to increase their ability to focus and multitask better, supervise the DA by putting things into practical terms, and then organizing groups to do magical sparring together as teams in simulated combat. This pays off when the Hogwarts students organize and decimate a Death Eater attack on Hogwarts. It is also hinted that Harry and his group put up a much better fight in the Department of Mysteries.

* The Dazzlings in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/245599 LEGO Equestria Girls 2]]'' (even Sonata Dusk in a way), in part from the fact that the story does not take place in a high school. Sunset Shimmer also counts.
* Applies heavily in ''Fanfic/TheBigFourCjupsherSeries''
** Limelight can fly, can shake off a building falling on her without a scratch, can lift over 400 tons and can heal people afflicted with dark magic. In fact, Merida, Anna, Elsa and over half of the other Disney princesses present in this world can kick EVERYBODY'S ass.
** Hiccup is the leader of the Big Four, is a mechanics expert, is the smartest member of the team and [[HandicappedBadass has a prosthetic foot]] from an accident when he was younger.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9473295/1/Lost-Girl-and-the-Lost-Room Lost Girl and the Lost Room]]'', Bo (''Series/LostGirl'') already has some awareness of other strange aspects of the world after she met Joe Miller (''Series/TheLostRoom''), who gave her some of the Objects that she can use to control her hunger and gain various other advantages, such as using the Knife and the Watch to give her a degree of telepathy.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1469350/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Key-of-Dagon Harry Potter and the Key of Dagon]]'', Dawn receives training in magic at Hogwarts after the Scoobies learn that Ginny has become a Slayer as a result of the mass activation spell.
* Comes up often in ''Fanfic/AvengersOfTheRing'' series;
** In ''Return of the Avengers'' and ''Dagor Arnediad'', Tony Stark forges new armor enhanced with mithril.
** In ''Methteilien'', Faramir begins training in the use of the Hulkbuster armour so that he can join the Avengers in the hunt for Thanos and Morgoth. Later, Banner/Hulk realises that, after absorbing extra energy on Sakaar, he is now capable of releasing energy blasts once he has reached a certain critical mass of power. After the TimeSkip, Gimli and Legolas are shown wearing vibranium armour while assisting the Avengers in the field.
* Applies heavily in ''Fanfic/ROTBTFDStarWarsSeries''
** Hiccup is made into a Jedi Knight, having hid away all of these years since the order fell. While he has not tamed a dragon like his canon counterpart, Hiccup is one of the most skilled fighters in the series, having created his own Jedi martial art called "The Book of Dragons", basing every kick-ass technique off of a different dragon that dwelled on his home planet.
** Elsa is made into a Jedi Knight, both as a competent fighter and master of what is called "Force Ice", a parallel to the dark side's Force Lightning and her ice magic in the film.
** Anna is made into a pretend Mandalorian searching for her big sister. Not convinced that the Order betrayed the public like everyone else, Anna set out to find her. Along the way, she acquired a Mandalorian outfit, a gun and the skills to use it ([[spoiler:if not a little [[TriggerHappy ''too'']] well, to be completely honest]]). To top it all off, Elsa says that she was able to find her by using the force unconsciously, but turns down her offer of Jedi training, happy with her own set of skills as is.
** Despite being a padawan, Rapunzel is an incredibly competent fighter and is fluent in the Force, being able to use it to heal injuries.
** Not only does Dagur retain all of the deranged, battle-crazy demeanor and skills from his canon incarnation, but he is now a god-damn ''Sith Lord'' named "Darth Skrill" with mastery over the force, is handy with a light-saber and the amoral temperament to threaten the entire universe with it.
** If Drago Bludvist was not scary enough, now he is now a Sith Lord and the Emperor, ruler of the Empire and conqueror of planets.
* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsAFairlyOddFriendship'': Thanks to Rainbow and Gilda's training, Timmy gradually becomes more athletic. [[spoiler: [[DeconstructedTrope However, his athletic prowess is limited to fighting people his age and size.]] He is completely outclassed by grownups, and has to rely on trickery to be able to battle them.]]

* ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'': In the original series, the main characters were humans with average abilities. Here, Shinji becomes a sorcerer with psychic powers and fulgurkinesis, Asuka a SuperSoldier and Rei a {{Plaguemaster}}.
* After her suit is destroyed and she's gravely injured in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10578266/9/Silly-but-Killy Silly but Killy]]'', [[Franchise/MassEffect Tali]] is given Limm Goo and Fightin Juice to possibly save her life. As a result, she becomes part Ork.
* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/5835529/chapters/14135594 Loki and a Kleptomaniac]]'' Hogwarts gossip queen and airhead Lavender Brown. And how. Taking out a Dalek-run Death Star with only her wand and an atomic blaster is pretty darn impressive in any universe.
* Shaak Ti rises to the rank of Jedi Master in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11577216/1/A-Horse-For-the-Force A Horse for the Force]]'' over a decade earlier than canon due to traveling with Ranma, who is not only a ''massive'' trouble magnet, but also spars and trains with her constantly.
* Jaune Arc takes one at the start of (and takes a second level throughout) the ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''/''Literature/TheHobbit''/''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''[[note]]And Machinema/RedVsBlue, for some characters[[/note]] FusionFic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11852303/1/Rise-of-a-Star-Knight Rise of a Star Knight]]'', and its sequel ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12404778/1/Knights-of-Remnant-The-Ring-of-Darkness Knights of Remnant: The Ring of Darkness]]''. He starts as an IdiotHero and the ButtMonkey, unlocks his [[SuperpowerfulGenetics inherited]] [[MagicKnight Star Knight powers]][[note]]The four Star Knights are the [[SpearCounterpart male equivalent]] of the Maidens in the story, except their powers are passed from father to eldest living son (or brother to brother, if they have no children), only become active when they turn 18, and they each belong to a specific kingdom, rather than being divided by seasons like the Maidens. And they each have their own army.[[/note]], gets trained by his [[CoolBigSis older sister]], [[FourStarBadass Carolina Arc]], who teaches him how to fight and how to use his new powers, and is the one that the rest of the heroes choose to lead them (over [[TheHero Ruby]], Qrow, and [[HeroOfAnotherStory Coco]]). Also, as the Star Knight of Vale, he has a [[BadassArmy private army]], the Sky Knights of Vale, lead by his aforementioned older sister. By the end of the first story, [[spoiler: he's killed ''Smaug'' and ''Cinder''. In the second story, he kills [[HeroKiller Locus]]]]
* Done literally in ''Fanfic/MyHeroPlaythrough'', since Izuku's [[Webcomic/TheGamer The Gamer]] power lets him see people's levels, and arrange special, live fire training in Dungeons. As a result, Izuku ends up getting first place in the entrance exam, and thanks to his help/power, Tsuyu places 7th.

* By the start of ''Fanfic/KnowThyself'', Harry has long-since [[ChildSoldiers become an official member of the Human Rebellion despite his age]], joining his parents on missions into the Matrix and then acting upon the Council's best interests when the existence of the Wizarding World becomes known to them.

* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Chloe Cerise was your average girl in her native series. But by the time she gets into the Infinity Train, she starts taking the steps to leave her past behind, wields a donut holer like she's up at bat and becomes courageous to speak her mind. It gets to the point that One-One asks her to help end the Apex once and for all.

[[AC:''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'']]
* In ''Fanfic/TheNorthRemembers'', Sansa Stark pretty much takes a level and then some. [[spoiler: She first kills Ser Shadrich with a knife when he attempts to rape her, then manages to enlist both the Brotherhood after convincing them not to kill Sandor, and the Burned Men by willingly getting her hand burnt, to help her overthrow Littlefinger. This finally culminates with them assaulting the Eyrie whilst Sansa is being tried for murdering Sweetrobin Arryn. The end result, Sansa beating Littlefinger at his own game (along with him getting a well-deserved beatdown courtesy of Lady Stoneheart).]]
* In ''Fanfic/PurpleDays'', Prince Joffrey Baratheon's long stretch of CharacterDevelopment has him taking a level practically every chapter. Joffrey starts off as the same weak, simpering coward from canon, but resolves to grow stronger after repeated deaths at the hands of his enemies. After enduring TrainingFromHell from multiple teachers and [[spoiler:leading the legions of Yi-Ti against the White Walkers]], he becomes a hardened and ridiculously skilled WarriorPrince well-versed in nearly every weapon under the sun with too many badass feats to list here.
** [[spoiler:Sansa Stark, Joffrey's betrothed, is revealed to be HumanWeapon created by the Purple just like Joffrey meant to aide him in stopping the Long Night. When she learns of this and joins him in his crusade, she demands that Joffrey train her in combat so that she won't become a liability to him. With three years of intense physical training, along with learning the ways of the ManipulativeBastards around her, she becomes Joffrey's chief confidante, smart enough to co-manage his political and economic projects and skilled enough in combat to defeat several assassins sent after her.]]

* ''Fanfic/{{Entropy}}'' has a few canon characters reach up a few levels, namely Amy who pwns a demoness early in the story while [[spoiler:naked]], but the one who takes the cake and eats all of it, is Agent Bazooka, also called Bazza who is [[TheReveal revealed]] to be [[spoiler: [[ProperLady Vanilla the Rabbit!]]]] of all people! [[ActionGirl One]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown example]] [[{{BFG}} isn't]] [[CrazyAwesome enough]] [[BewareOfTheNiceOnes to]] [[FreeFallFight describe]] [[MamaBear her.]]

** Following the Strawhats CurbStompBattle at the hand of Shiki and Shiki taking Nami from them, [[spoiler:Vivi eats the avril of the [[BlowYouAway Gust-Gust Fruit's]] she got after leaving Alabasta, turning her into the crew's logia]].

* While Izuku in ''Fanfic/TheNorseHeroFenrir'' was impressive as he was, when All Might gives him One For All, it compliments his preexisting quirk almost as though they were meant for each other. For one thing, Izuku's transformations are much easier, capable of shifting between his human form, beast mode and Ragnarök without the needing to be threatened before hand, and even is able to take on a [[LittleBitBeastly "light"-mode]] that gives him a power boost without having to do a full transformation and waste energy. With his preexisting strength and HealingFactor, Izuku can tap into One For All's overwhelming threshold of power without breaking his limbs, though it does speed up quirk exhaustion. [[spoiler:The power boost it gives him was enough for him to defeat ''All For One'' the first time they meet]].

* ''Fanfic/UnbreakableRedSilkenThread'': Cody has bulked up considerably over the years.

** All over during the Enies Lobby Arc:

* In the alternate universe ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfiction, ''Every Generation'', Canada undergoes this to free himself and America from England's smothering rule. [[spoiler:It works. [[BreakTheCutie Kind of.]]]]

[[AC:''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'']]
* In the alternate universe ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfiction, ''Every Generation'', Canada undergoes this to free himself and America from England's smothering rule. [[spoiler:It works. [[BreakTheCutie Kind of.]]]]

* In the ''VideoGame/Portal2'' fanfic ''FanFic/BlueSky'' Wheatley goes from a LovableCoward who can hardly even walk...to a LovableCoward who is willing to sacrifice his life to successfully take down [=GLaDOS=], taking his flaw of bad ideas and ''weaponising'' it.

* '''''Everyone''''' did in {{Fanfic/Magica Madoka Veneficus Puella}}. All of the weapons can be spammed without hesitation. All the characters have enhanced strength and reinforced body structures. Oh, and [[spoiler:Homura's a potential goddess.]]

* After the events of ''[[FanFic/TamersForeverSeries Omni-Tamer]]'', Takato becomes the strongest Tamer by far. Unfortunately for him, the one person whose respect and praise he truly desires instead becomes aggressive and spiteful to him out of jealousy, forcing Takato to finally ''[[BerserkButton snap]]''.

* In ''FanficSupernovaOnePiece'', Luffy eats a Logia Fruit that turns him into a [[PowerOfTheSun Sun Man]] and learns Rokushiki from his grandfather. He also goes on to teach is crew Rokushiki. As a result, ''Nami'' beats Krieg and Zoro manages to use RazorWind by Arlong Park. By the time they reach Loguetown, all three have the highest bounties in the East Blue (50 million for Luffy, 30 for Zoro, and 20 for Nami).

*** Boss learns and develops his Full-Shell Style, [[spoiler: his version of the Six Powers. Even the Six King Gun]].

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11568253/1/Supernova Supernova]]'', Luffy eats a Logia Fruit that turns him into a [[PowerOfTheSun Sun Man]] and learns Rokushiki from his grandfather. He also goes on to teach is crew Rokushiki. As a result, ''Nami'' beats Krieg and Zoro manages to use RazorWind by Arlong Park. By the time they reach Loguetown, all three have the highest bounties in the East Blue (50 million for Luffy, 30 for Zoro, and 20 for Nami).

*** And ''[[spoiler: Armament Haki]]'' at the climax of Enies Lobby.

*** [[spoiler: Soundbite '''Awakens''' the Noise-Noise Fruit]].
*** Vivi [[spoiler: awakens a CompellingVoice that is thought to be a variation of ''Conqueror's Haki''.]]