History Main / INeedYouStronger

** In ''VideoGame/XCOM2'', [[spoiler:after humanity's defeat, the Ethereals seemingly gave up on their original plan to uplift humanity and instead planned to [[HumansAreSpecial augment themselves with human DNA]] in order to be strong enough to face the unknown enemy, which would kill billions of humans in the process. In the ending cinematic, when fighting the Commander's Avatar they desperately claim that [[WellIntentionedExtremist stopping them would be the end of everybody]], and that "it" would follow us as it followed them which we aren't ready for.]]

* ''Videogame/{{Diablo}} I''. Whether it was Diablo's plan or not, ''it works''. FailureIsTheOnlyOption, and that's why he's 10 times stronger in Diablo II.

* In ''Anime/LostUniverse'', the main villain Yami doesn't kill Kain Blueriver when they first meet, wanting him to be stronger before corrupting him. [[spoiler:Making him stronger worked ''too'' well.]]

* In ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', [[spoiler:the [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Horseman of Famine]]'s EvilPlan is to make the Horseman of War and Chainsaw Man strong enough to defeat [[TheProblemWithFightingDeath Death]] by taking advantage of the setting's ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve rules. As Devils gain power through humans fearing them or [[OddJobGods the concepts they embody]], she created a CultOfPersonality surrounding Chainsaw Man and used it to wreak havoc across Japan as an elaborate GenghisGambit to make him (and War, who she tricked into joining) feared and HatedByAll]].

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', Creator/AleisterCrowley manipulates things behind the scenes so that Touma Kamijou constantly runs into bad guys and problems to fight and solve, wanting him to gain experience and get stronger for some [[HiddenAgendaVillain undisclosed goal]]. Later, [[spoiler:the True GREMLIN organization reveals that Touma's entire adventure with Othinus was an "experiment" of their design to manipulate Touma's growth.]]

* Freya from ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' is a weird case in that making Bell stronger ''is'' the endgame. She [[InLoveWithYourCarnage really]] [[TheImmodestOrgasm enjoys]] watching him fight.
* In ''LightNovel/{{Campione}}'', Athena wants Godou Kusanagi to master his powers and become stronger, so that it will be more epic and satisfying when they finally have a rematch.

* In ''Fanfic/SeaOfSouls'', after having suffered a slight to his ego, for things not going exactly how he planned in his escape from Soul Society, Aizen comes to the surprising realization that while being annoyed he's also delighted that this is the case, as if he's actually looking forward to being challenged and this move by the Straw Hats make him hopeful to have an equal in Luffy.

* In ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'', this is apparently part of Demon culture. [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_2103.php As Dark Phoenix explains]] to his niece, Regina, as he's about to let his would-be assassin go free:

* INeedYouStronger: X isn't bothered by Dongtae antagonizing him, in fact he finds it fun and sometimes provides hints on how to get to him, while X isn't above sending other people to their deaths if they annoy him. Subverted as X eventually changes his mind when Dongtae starts becoming a problem to his games.

* In ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'', this is apparently part of Demon culture. As Dark Phoenix explains to his niece, Regina, as he's about to let his would-be assassin go free:

* In ''Webcomic/TheWotch'', it's clear that Xaos has enough power to take out Anne or Miranda (possibly both of them at once), as does [[TheDragon Kohaine]]. He's explicitly testing Anne, wanting her to grow as strong as possible before stepping in and stealing her powers. Why he can't just take them now and be done with it...? It's revealed during the HuntingTheMostDangerousGame arc: Anne has RealityWarper powers [[spoiler:capable of ripping apart dimensional boarders. However, it's incomplete.]]

* In the first season of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003, Slade's goal was to recruit Robin as an apprentice, so there will be someone to carry on in their villainous footsteps. All Slade's attempts to destroy the city were never meant to succeed, but only to test Robin's skills. When the two face off in the season finale, Slade is delighted that Robin is posing more of a threat than the last time they fought, because it means their training is paying off.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'', TheRival [[GenkiGirl Nemona]] is one of the regional Champions but [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction has nobody else able to match her]] and after deciding the PlayerCharacter has potential spends the entirety of their adventure trying to mold them into the next Champion. She would use low-level {{mons}} when fighting the player and even picked the starter weak to theirs to give herself a handicap, and follows them into ''every single gym'' to encourage them to keep going.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'', the TopGod Arceus summons the player [[TrappedInAnotherWorld from another world]] into the UsefulNotes/MeijiRestoration and tasks them with [[GottaCatchThemAll catching 'em all]] in order to foster positive relations between humans and Pokémon [[spoiler:and raise up a Trainer strong enough to protect it from [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Pokémon Wielder Volo]] & [[SatanicArchetype Giratina]]]].

->''"Hear me, hero. Endure. Survive. Live. For the rush of blood, for the time between the seconds--live. [[BloodKnight For the sole pleasure left to me in this, empty, ephemeral world]]--live!"''