Chapter 77: Spar

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Spar

Inside the stadium, Qu Hua was introducing their respective abilities to Fang Can.

Since their last world was the X-Men universe, they’d all brought some powers back with them, making the introductions rather straightforward.

The seven had a range of superpowers: illusions, telekinetic arms, flesh-to-steel transformation, super strength, gravity, and more...

Some of the abilities sounded impressive on paper, but judging the poison without knowing the dose is meaningless.

After listening to the superhumans’ self-introductions, Qu Hua suggested enthusiastically, "Just hearing about your abilities only tells us so much. How about a friendly spar?"

"After all, a spar would give us a more direct demonstration of each other’s strength."

Fang Can hesitated. "You want to spar with me?"

"Of course. But to make it fair, a few of us will take you on at once," Qu Hua said with a polite smile. "Please go easy on us, Fang. We’ll stop before anyone gets hurt."

After all, their understanding of Fang Can’s true strength came only from what they’d seen in a movie. A friendly spar right now would be a much better way to gauge his power.

’So these people really do know who I am,’ Fang Can thought.

’Other than my Heart Image, I’ve never publicly displayed any superpowers. Yet this guy thinks I’m strong enough that they need to team up against me.’

’More Reincarnators? A whole group of them? It can’t be...’

At this thought, Fang Can feigned reluctance. "Fights can get messy. It wouldn’t be good if I accidentally hurt one of you."

"Come on, it’s just a simple spar," said Liu Wen, a chubby guy with glasses, waving a dismissive hand.

They didn’t think there was any way they’d lose to Fang Can if they worked together, at least not under normal circumstances. Unless it was a fight to the death, his "plot armor" probably wouldn’t kick in.

"Since you insist, fine."

Seeing their insistence, Fang Can reluctantly agreed. He bent down slightly and dug a fist-sized stone out of the ground with his bare hands.

With a gentle squeeze and a soft CRUNCH, the stone crumbled into small fragments.

While the superhumans watched in confusion, Fang Can gripped the fragments and suddenly flung them.

With a few sharp WHOOSHES, the fragments shot through the air, smashing several nearby surveillance cameras to pieces.

"Fuck me, that bastard! He’s even taking precautions against us."

In a base on the outskirts of Z City, the Gimmick King cursed as he stared at the blackened monitor.

"Chief, we still haven’t been able to identify Qu Hua and his group of superhumans. It’s like they appeared out of thin air," an investigator reported respectfully from the side.

"Appeared out of thin air? Don’t tell me they’re another group that crossed over from some Martial Dao world?"

"Unlikely," the researcher said. "The traits they’re exhibiting are more in line with superhumans. Unless they were masters on the level of the Heaven-Ascending Road, they wouldn’t have these kinds of powers. But their strength is far too weak; it doesn’t match that level at all."

After hearing the researcher’s analysis, the Gimmick King scratched his head. What on earth did a group of unidentified superhumans want, appearing in this city at this particular time?

’They can’t possibly be here for Fang Can, can they?’ the Gimmick King wondered.

According to the latest intelligence from the Otherworld, the guy who’d topped the Celestial Secret List was likely this very same Fang Can. That was why they were keeping an eye on him.

"Chief, should we report them to headquarters?" the researcher beside him asked.

"No," the Gimmick King ordered. "Keep it under wraps, just like the intel on Fang Can. We’ll deal with everything after Carnival Day."

「Back at the stadium.」

After destroying the cameras, Fang Can, now without any inhibitions, fixed his gaze on the group of superhumans. "We can start now."

THUD!!!

The instant Fang Can finished speaking, he felt his body grow heavy.

In the next moment, every cell in his body felt more than ten times heavier. A normal person’s internal organs would have likely been crushed instantly.

At this thought, Fang Can glanced at the chubby, bespectacled young man. That would be Liu Wen, whose power was a gravity field.

’A pity. This amount of gravity isn’t even close to enough,’ Fang Can thought, stepping forward as if nothing had happened.

But in the next instant, he felt invisible hands grip his limbs.

The arms began to pull outward with the force of several tons, as if trying to draw and quarter him. This was clearly the work of the superhuman with "Telekinesis Arms."

Just as Fang Can was about to look toward the one with Telekinesis, his vision went completely black.

And it wasn’t just his sight. All five of his senses—touch, vision, taste, hearing, and smell—were completely shut down.

In the distance, three Reincarnators suited for close combat, Qu Hua among them, were already charging in to take Fang Can down.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the woman known as Li Qiuyu activated her ability. In the next second, the three close-combat Martial Artists were all boosted, their physical attributes increasing by over thirty percent.

"We can win..."

This feeling welled up in their hearts as they watched the young man, his face serene, suspended in mid-air by the telekinetic arms, all five of his senses stripped away.

Their powers synergized perfectly; most enemies fell victim to their initial combo. They saw no reason why Fang Can would be an exception.

’You foolish movie-world native. Just succumb to our combo and pass out.’

Li Qiuyu licked her lips, thinking that by the time Fang Can woke up, she would have already drained him at least seven times.

’How boring... How dull...’

In the pitch-black void, Fang Can’s mind remained perfectly placid, as tranquil as if he were sleeping.

These people’s superpowers were certainly interesting, but they were too weak. They weren’t even strong enough to trigger his ability that turns the tide from extreme adversity.

Fang Can had never taken these superhumans seriously. He couldn’t even be bothered to spar with them.

The threat they posed was simply far too minuscule. A fight would be a complete waste of his time.

Having to hold back so he didn’t accidentally kill them was just a pain in the ass.

’And these people really have a death wish...’

Fang Can sighed internally. The next instant, his body moved within the darkness.

In the real world, Qu Hua’s entire body had transformed into solid steel. He unleashed a terrifying punch aimed at Fang Can’s abdomen.

But in the next moment, just as his fist was a hair’s breadth from its target, a thunderous boom ripped through the air, followed by a sonic ripple like that of a low-flying jet fighter.

BOOM—

It was the roar of Fang Can’s fist shattering the sound barrier.

The air parted like a tidal wave. Despite moving second, Fang Can’s right fist had already slammed viciously into Qu Hua.

As Fang Can’s punch flew, a million thoughts raced through Qu Hua’s mind.

’Didn’t Fang Can lose all five of his senses?’

’My body of steel can take this punch!’

’After I take this hit, how should I counterattack?!’

’Where’s my backup?! I need support, now!’

But when Fang Can’s iron fist smashed squarely into his head, all of Qu Hua’s thoughts vanished.

The only thing left in his mind was a single, searing bolt of pain.