"Huh? Why hasn't anyone stepped up yet?"
"Because no one is sure of their current Combat Power level. Who would dare to show off recklessly?"
"Moreover, the earlier you step onto the stage, the sooner your abilities are exposed, giving others more time to counter!"
...
Seeing that no one had stepped forward for a while, the lone figure of the Special Agent Chief on the stage grew impatient. He scolded, "Look at you all, cowering like this!"
"Where has the fearless spirit of a special agent gone?"
"Who among you dares to step up first and face the challenge of ten thousand?"
His tone seemed to question the crowd below, but his sharp gaze unmistakably landed on Ouyang Yunzhi. The message was clear—
"Since they're hesitant, your Martial Arts Squad shouldn't stay low-key. Step up and set an example!"
As the captain of the Martial Arts Squad, Ouyang Yunzhi calmly gave her orders while eating candy:
"Song Feng, you go first."
"Yes, Captain!"
From the Martial Arts Squad, a young special agent stepped forward, following the command.
With a leap, he jumped onto the stage and bowed to the audience below.
"Martial Arts Squad, Song Feng, Combat Power C-rank! I seek your guidance!"
"Hey! Someone's finally up!"
Seeing this, the Chief's expression softened slightly, and the audience grew excited.
However, some couldn't help but comment, "Why did the Martial Arts Squad send Song Feng? Isn't Xu Bing supposed to be amazing? Why isn't she stepping up?"
"Don't be ridiculous! Would you play your trump card right at the start?"
"This is probably to test the waters for Xu Bing."
"Tsk, tsk! Using a C-rank Combat Power to test the waters? That's way too extravagant!"
"A C-rank martial artist's Combat Power is at least equivalent to a C+ Esper, right?"
...
As the crowd buzzed with discussion, another figure leaped onto the stage.
"Green Dragon Squad, Deng Kaiyun, C-rank! I seek your guidance!"
The audience erupted again:
"It's Deng Kaiyun from the Green Dragon Squad! He awakened the Spirit Combat ability!"
"Even before awakening his Superpower, he was the close-combat champion of the Green Dragon Squad!"
"With that in mind, this match should be quite intense!"
...
By consuming the black Physical Enhancement Fruit, one could awaken the "Spirit Combat" ability, which focused on close-quarters combat. Spirit Combat and martial arts shared some similarities—
Both relied on one's physical capabilities as the foundation of their power!
Senses, reflexes, speed, and strength! However, martial arts further incorporated martial techniques and the enhancement of Spiritual energy.
Thus, when the physical capabilities of both sides were similar, martial artists generally held the advantage...
Below the stage, Ning Shuangyu calmly watched the fighters, her mind quietly analyzing.
On the stage, after the two exchanged formal bows, the battle began—
Deng Kaiyun of the Green Dragon Squad took the initiative, executing classic special agent combat techniques. However, he held back, likely just testing the waters—a common tactic in the base.
Following convention, this was expected to be a drawn-out, evenly matched fight.
But to everyone's surprise, the seemingly mild-mannered Song Feng adopted a fierce, decisive approach! He withstood Deng Kaiyun's strike with his body, then closed the distance. Empowered by Spiritual energy, he unleashed tremendous force, shoving Deng Kaiyun off the stage in one swift motion!
Deng Kaiyun fell to the ground with a thud, completely stunned—
He had only been testing the waters!
He hadn't even exerted thirty percent of his strength! Yet, he was already knocked off the stage?! The entire fight lasted less than three seconds!
"I… I lost so unfairly!"
He was on the verge of tears!...
"Hiss!"
The crowd below gasped in unison, momentarily forgetting to cheer—
They all knew martial artists were strong, but they hadn't expected them to be this formidable! Both were C-level, yet one was defeated in a single move?...
"This is the result of lacking practical combat experience."
Ning Shuangyu stood below the stage, calmly analyzing the situation.
Although!
There was an inherent gap in strength between Deng Kaiyun and Song Feng, one that couldn't be bridged by experience alone.
But! If Deng Kaiyun had gone all out from the start!
He wouldn't have lost so thoroughly!...
"I concede!"
Song Feng bowed to Deng Kaiyun below the stage.
Deng Kaiyun's face was filled with resentment, but he ultimately said nothing—
From that single move, he had already realized that Song Feng's strength far surpassed his own! No matter what, he couldn't win!
...
"A complete domination at the same level!"
"The power of martial arts! Truly lives up to its reputation!"
"I'm afraid only a C+ level Esper could stand a chance against Song Feng, right?"
Before the crowd's voices faded.
Another person stepped onto the stage.
It was a mature man around fifty years old, with a rugged appearance.
He announced:
"Mystery Squad, Qin Zhuang, C++ level!"
Upon seeing him, the crowd was instantly shocked: "Qin the God? That ace agent with numerous accolades?"
"It's him! Wasn't he in seclusion? Even he was drawn out!"
"This just goes to show how extraordinary the allure of this high-grade Esper elixir is!"
"By the way, what ability did he awaken?"
"No idea!"
...
Seeing this legendary veteran, Song Feng's eyes inadvertently revealed a hint of wariness—
A battle-hardened old agent! And a C++ level at that! Two levels above him!
Whether in experience or strength, he was at a disadvantage!
If he got entangled with him, it would likely be a case of "an old fox toying with a young cub"! So! He had to seize the initiative and end it quickly!
This time! He struck first!
Starting at 0 frames! To outsiders, it might seem like a sneak attack!
But in reality!
Once someone steps onto the arena, they're entering a battlefield of rapid changes, and must always be prepared for sudden changes! So it couldn't be called a sneak attack!
...
As the saying goes, "fists fear the young and strong!" Song Feng's fierce attacks landed precisely on the old agent Qin Zhuang!
Qin Zhuang's reactions were sluggish!
He seemed unable to dodge, only barely managing to parry!...
The audience below held their breath, watching intently, wondering if the glory of this "old god" still remained!
...
But after taking several punches in a row, Qin Zhuang remained standing, his expression unchanged! This made Song Feng slightly uneasy!
But there was no time to think too much! Suddenly!
At a certain moment, Qin Zhuang grabbed Song Feng's iron fist...
Amidst the gasps of the crowd!
Under Song Feng's astonished gaze! Qin Zhuang's palm struck his chest! Bang! A loud explosion! Song Feng's body was sent flying, crashing to the ground! Boom! He was like a bomb dropped from high altitude, shattering the earth beneath him!
Yet he himself...
Yet, she sat there unharmed, in a daze!
...
Ning Shuangyu's eyes flickered slightly: "The ability Qin Zhuang awakened is energy storage!"
"He stores the attacks he receives in the form of energy within his body!"
"And then releases it!"
She couldn't help but wonder—
If she had been the one fighting Qin Zhuang on stage, what would she have done? Could she have discovered his ability in a short time?
And found a way to counter it?...
As for the rest of the audience, they were left in awe: "Qin Shen is still as sharp as ever!"
"So impressive!"
"Indeed, experience trumps youth!"
"But Qin Shen, with his C++ level strength, defeated Song Feng, who was at C+ level… isn't that expected?"
"That's true! Moreover, Qin Shen's victory might not have been as easy as it seemed…"
...
On stage.
Qin Zhuang's breathing was slightly labored!
Ning Shuangyu noticed this.
And instinctively deduced—
Qin Zhuang's energy storage must have a limit!
Once the stored energy reaches its limit, it must be released immediately! Otherwise, it would cause harm to himself!
And the energy released by Song Feng in those few moves.
Was almost the limit of Qin Zhuang's energy storage.
If Deng Kai lost to Song Feng because he was too cautious!
Then!
Song Feng lost to Qin Zhuang because he was too impatient.
If he had observed Qin Zhuang's reactions more during his attacks, he might have deduced Qin Zhuang's ability…
But he just kept attacking blindly! Which played right into Qin Zhuang's hands!
...
But this also indicated
one thing—
Song Feng, with his C-level strength!
Had the chance to defeat a C++ level Esper!
That's a leap of two levels! "Could it be that martial arts are so much stronger than superpowers?"
This was Ning Shuangyu's thought.
And at this moment!
It was also the thought of countless Espers in the audience, filled with resentment!
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