Chapter 96: I'm Very Displeased
Silence.
Deathly silence!
A silence like death!
The few people present stared blankly at King, who was still holding his punching posture.
*Stay calm, keep calm!*
King took a deep breath and slowly retracted his stance. He was utterly baffled. His strength should be greater than that of the Association staff member, and the force of his punch should have surpassed the staff member's previous attack. So why was the sparring robot not reacting at all? Could it be broken?
He glanced suspiciously at the sparring robot.
Snek and the others had the same doubt. Even a dog could get a reaction out of the sparring robot. In theory, a normal person's punch should absolutely fall within the detection range of "The Nerd's Glasses." The robot should have reacted. Perhaps only a malfunction could explain why it remained motionless in the face of King's punch.
Woof!
Just then, the wolf-dog in the iron cage, having rested for a while, finally recovered its energy. Taking advantage of the unlocked cage, it burst out and charged straight at the sparring robot.
Child Emperor's eyes lit up, and he commanded loudly, "Sparring-bot, report the wolf-dog's next attack route."
"Acknowledged!"
The sparring robot replied in a cold tone. The light in its mechanical eyes flickered slightly as it announced impassively, "Target will soon leap to attack my chest plate!"
The moment its synthesized electronic voice fell, the wolf-dog, as if telepathically linked, crouched on all fours, let out a ferocious bark, and leaped into the air, its sharp claws swiping toward the sparring robot's chest.
Swish!
As if it had seen through everything, the sparring robot shifted its body slightly. The wolf-dog missed, flying past it and landing on the ground.
"Target is preparing to turn, leap, and bite my leg!" the sparring robot reported coldly.
Sure enough, after landing, the wolf-dog, unwilling to give up, pounced at the sparring robot again, its target aimed squarely at the robot's calf.
"..."
The unfolding scene proved that the sparring robot was not broken, and "The Nerd's Glasses" was also working normally. In that case, there were only two explanations for why King's punch failed to elicit a reaction: one, King's punch was too strong, exceeding the upper detection limit of "The Nerd's Glasses"; two, King's punch was too weak, falling below the lower detection limit and thus being considered a non-threatening attack.
King was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He knew his own situation best. The reason his punch didn't trigger a reaction from the sparring robot was definitely not because it was too powerful; it was undoubtedly because it was far too weak.
"System, get out here! Explain my current situation! Did you make a mistake?"
His attribute panel clearly showed that he had 7 points in strength. His power was absolutely greater than that of the Association staff member, so why couldn't he get a reaction from the sparring robot?
This didn't make any sense!
"Ding! The System has not detected any loopholes. All data is normal."
The System replied quickly, indicating that everything was normal.
King was now lost. The sparring robot wasn't malfunctioning, and the System wasn't making any errors either. Could it be that something was wrong with him? Could it be that the power of his punch really did exceed the upper detection limit of "The Nerd's Glasses"?
*No, that's not right.* Whether it was the glaring 7 points of strength on the System's attribute panel or the flabby muscles on his own body... Wait, hold on. That's it! Why am I still so flabby? With 7 points of strength, shouldn't I be a mountain of muscle?
He paused for a moment, then hurriedly asked the System, "Hey, System, did you forget to modify my body?"
The System replied icily, "Ding! This System is not a biological stimulant and does not come with the function of modifying the host's physical capabilities."
King was stunned. "If you don't modify my physical capabilities, then how did my strength increase?"
"Ding! Please refer to mechs!"
"Mechs?"
King was dumbfounded. So, his increase in strength was due to the System granting him an invisible mech. Furthermore, the so-called Card bonding was essentially the same principle as the mech. He was just piloting various humanoid mechs to fight. The increase in his own strength, defense, and other attributes was just improving that invisible mech around him; it had nothing to do with his actual body. In other words, he still had the body of the original King, a complete shut-in weakling.
This fact... was just too cruel!
At the same time.
"This strength..."
Snek's mouth twitched. This... this was the person whose strength was supposedly above his? Was that powerless punch a deliberate act of hiding his true power, or was it his actual level?
Quick-Fist Hero was just as baffled. Was this person some kind of joke Child Emperor was playing on them? How could someone with this kind of strength possibly surpass them?
Child Emperor narrowed his little eyes. As expected of King! The power of an ordinary-looking punch actually surpassed the upper detection limit of "The Nerd's Glasses." From his appearance, one couldn't see the power of that punch at all. If he didn't know that person was King, no one would ever take that "limp" punch seriously.
How should one describe this state of overwhelming power concealed within such plainness?
Attaining true simplicity! That's right, King's state has already reached the level of attaining true simplicity! Greatness contained within the ordinary. What a terrifying man.
Tanktop Striker was first stunned, then immediately burst out laughing. "Hahahaha, no reaction... And I thought it was some formidable hero. Turns out he's a joke. Oh, no, a joke isn't this weak. Even a dog can make the robot feel threatened, yet he can't. He's not even as good as a dog."
Having Snek, this A-Class hero, ranked above him already made him very displeased. He hadn't expected another nameless, faceless guy to show up and be ranked above him as well. If that guy's strength was truly great, then fine. But to think he was so laughably weak—this he could not accept. Letting such a person be ranked higher than him was a downright insult.
Child Emperor's little eyebrows furrowed, and he said lightly, "Uncle Tanktop Striker, you're mistaken. In front of this uncle, perhaps we are the ones who aren't even as good as a dog!"
Tanktop Striker froze, then sneered, "Child Emperor, you really know how to joke. I admit there are many people in the world stronger than us, but who has the power to look down on us as if we were stray cats and dogs?"
If it were just him, there were indeed a handful of people who could kill him instantly. But if you included Child Emperor, an S-Class hero, in the equation, who would dare say they could instantly kill them both?
Child Emperor licked his lollipop, glanced at King, and said with a solemn expression, "There is!" *This uncle King is just too strong. An ordinary punch exceeded the detection range of "The Nerd's Glasses." His strength is far beyond that of Superalloy Darkshine and the other S-Class heroes!*
"There is?"
Snek looked at the certain Child Emperor, his heart wavering. He narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps there really is. The one known as the strongest on Earth..."
"Man!"
Quick-Fist Hero boldly finished Snek's sentence.
If there was anyone who could view them as ants, it could probably only be that man.
"Child Emperor, there's a limit to joking. We're adults; we don't have time for your childish games." Tanktop Striker curled his lip, pointed at King, and mocked, "Besides, what kind of powerful aura do you see on him? A divine aura? It's more like a constipated..."
Bang!
Before he could finish his sentence, he was suddenly sent flying like a kite with a snapped string, crashing into the iron cage with a loud, crisp clang.
"Cough, cough, which bastard attacked me? I'll slaughter you."
Tanktop Striker grimaced in pain, his face full of rage. He was about to stand up and see which blind fool had hit him when his vision suddenly went dark. A figure was standing before him. He raised his head with a start and saw a white shirt, a black flat cap, a cold and chiseled face, and three savage... scars!
His pupils suddenly shrank. This appearance... this aura... those three scars... *Oh, I seem to have provoked a truly incredible figure.*
It's King!
"Right now, I'm very displeased!"
(end of chapter)