The expansion is evident in his physicality. Even after he gains some mobility with the brace, his movements are described as careful, considered, different. He doesn't just bounce back. The narrative maintains the reality of his changed body. He gets tired, he has pain, he has to think about how to navigate spaces. This persistent attention to his physical reality keeps his growth grounded. His strength becomes more about endurance and precision than brute force. Fighting from a seated position requires new techniques, new strategies. This redefined physicality symbolizes his entire arc: he hasn't returned to his old self; he's integrated his experience into a new, functional, and powerful whole. He fights smarter, not just harder.