One Punch Man

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, training grounds.

"Boss, that hurts! Please go easy on me!"

On the Soul Fighting Arena, a handsome young man with short golden hair lay on the ground like a dead dog. His entire body was wrapped in lightning as he convulsed nonstop and wailed miserably. He looked as pitiful as could be.

Standing beside him was a tall, black-haired young man who looked around twenty. He wore an expressionless face, and his right arm had already transformed into a dragon's arm. Faint purple lightning flickered around it as he said coldly, "Get down. Next."

"Hahaha, Osler, I didn't see you for a few days, and you've gotten this weak?" A similarly golden-haired, handsome young man below the arena mocked him mercilessly.

"If you're so good, get up there yourself! Cough, cough—all you do is stand there and talk big." Osler shot the young man a disdainful glance, then shakily climbed to his feet and walked off the stage.

"Giggle! Yufeng, Osler, stop bickering. It's not that Osler has gotten weaker. Tian Heng just broke through to rank thirty-nine today, so it's only natural that Osler was utterly defeated." A purple-haired, green-eyed woman radiating seductive charm said with a smile.

Osler limped slowly toward another woman standing hidden in the corner, her face veiled in black gauze. Seeing this, the woman slowly raised her hands, and a Begonia Flower made of pink and white petals appeared between them. The flower released petal-like white light that shone over Osler, and his injuries visibly healed at a rapid pace.

"Everyone, please wait a moment. A new member will be joining your team today."

Teacher Qin Ming slowly approached with a girl beside him.

Everyone's gazes immediately shifted to the two of them. When they clearly saw the girl at Qin Ming's side, their eyes brightened.

The girl had short silver hair and a pair of large, lively eyes that blinked adorably. Her fair, delicate face was so soft it seemed ready to drip with water, making people unable to resist wanting to pinch it. Shallow, faintly rosy dimples adorned her cheeks, and she stood around one meter sixty tall. The only slight regret was that her figure was "unremarkably flat," leaving plenty of room for improvement. A faint air of nobility surrounded her, along with a trace of intellectual beauty.

Since Xue Ke had only recently enrolled, and the Imperial Fighting Team had been busy training and rarely went out during this time, none of them recognized her.

Qin Ming smiled at the girl beside him. "Introduce yourself to everyone."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Xue Ke. I'm twelve years old, my Martial Soul is the Jade Swan, and I'm a rank thirty-four Support Soul Elder." Xue Ke slowly spoke with what she believed was a lovely smile.

"Gasp—so it's Princess Xue Ke!" Osler exclaimed in surprise.

Xue Ke was now famous far and wide. In all of Heaven Dou City, almost no one was unaware of the renowned Princess Xue Ke of the Heaven Dou Empire. Few people had ever seen her in person, however.

"Oh my, what an adorable little sister! Welcome aboard! My name is Dugu Yan. I'm nineteen years old, my Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, and I'm a rank thirty-seven control-type Battle Soul Elder. I'm the vice-captain of the Imperial Fighting Team. From now on, Big Sister will look after you at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If anyone dares bully you, just give them my name." The "snake spirit" Dugu Yan introduced herself with great familiarity, looking every bit the Big Sister.

Next, Osler, Yufeng, Shi Mo, and Shi Mo all stepped forward to introduce themselves.

"My name is Yu Tianheng. My Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. I'm a rank thirty-nine Assault Battle Soul Elder and the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team." Yu Tianheng introduced himself without expression.

So he's Yu Tianheng. He looks like someone owes him millions. What's with acting so aloof in front of me? Xue Ke grumbled inwardly, pouting slightly as she decided to give him a show of strength later.

Xue Ke looked toward the girl in the corner wearing a black veil. The girl's waterfall-like blue hair cascaded down her back, and not the slightest emotion showed in her blue eyes. Together with her unapproachable aura, she seemed exceptionally lonely and cold. Xue Ke had a faint guess about her identity.

"Her name is Ye Lingling. Her Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia. She's the team's Support Soul Master. She doesn't like talking much, but she's easy enough to get along with," Dugu Yan introduced.

Xue Ke gave the cool older girl standing alone in the corner a slight nod, then walked onto the Soul Fighting Arena on her own and pointed at the "expressionless face" Yu Tianheng. "Get up here. I challenge you!"

"Princess Xue Ke, are you sure? You want to challenge the boss? You're a support-type Soul Master! Come down quickly!" Osler urged from the side.

Although many in Heaven Dou City had heard the rumors that Xue Ke possessed "innate divine strength," rumors were only rumors. The members of the Imperial Fighting Team did not really believe them.

"I'm actually a support-type Battle Soul Master. I can fight, and I sincerely hope to spar with the captain," Xue Ke said seriously.

Yu Tianheng did not say anything. He simply walked onto the Soul Fighting Arena.

"Boss, go easy on her! She's not like me—she can't take a beating!" Osler said worriedly.

"I'm starting!" Xue Ke said.

Yu Tianheng continued to stare at Xue Ke expressionlessly, his arms crossed before his chest. He did not even release his Martial Soul, clearly not taking her seriously.

The corners of Xue Ke's lips curled upward. She used the Floating Willow Movement Technique, leaving an afterimage where she stood. Activating the Bone-Breaking Hand, she hardened both fists. A sharp whistle tore through the air, and in barely more than a second, she arrived before Yu Tianheng and punched toward his chest.

Yu Tianheng was slightly startled and failed to react in time. He instinctively raised both arms in front of his chest to block. Then everyone heard a thunderous bang, and Yu Tianheng was blasted off the Soul Fighting Arena by Xue Ke, crashing violently into the ground and leaving it caved in.

Osler and the others swallowed hard, their eyes widening in shock at the terrifying speed and power Xue Ke had displayed. Their eyeballs nearly popped out.

"Th-this... she really is Princess Xue Ke, the one with 'innate divine strength'! The rumors were true. She actually blasted the boss away with a single punch," Osler exclaimed.

Yu Tianheng slowly climbed up from the ground. He had gained an entirely new understanding of Xue Ke's strength and no longer dared underestimate her.

Xue Ke had actually held back. Otherwise, with the thirty-thousand-jin strength of one hand, Yu Tianheng could not possibly have gotten back up so easily.

"I was careless. Again." Yu Tianheng returned to the Soul Fighting Arena and activated Martial Soul Possession. His right arm transformed into a dragon arm, and three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—appeared. His first soul ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!" A blue-violet lightning claw struck toward Xue Ke.

Xue Ke sneered and used the Snowy Movement Technique, easily dodging Yu Tianheng's attack. She rapidly closed in on him and threw another punch.

Yu Tianheng raised his huge dragonized right arm against Xue Ke's small fist. With another loud bang, although Yu Tianheng had been prepared this time, he still could not stop himself from retreating again and again to offset the tremendous force of Xue Ke's strike. A burst of pain shot through his arm, and he nearly fell off the Soul Fighting Arena once more.

"You're very strong." Yu Tianheng steadied himself, his right arm trembling slightly.

"Third Soul Skill, Wrath of Thunder!"

"Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Might!"

A mass of purple lightning appeared around Yu Tianheng, condensing into countless lightning bolts that shot toward Xue Ke.

Xue Ke looked at Yu Tianheng disdainfully and activated the Golden Bell Shield. A massive phantom of a golden bell completely enveloped her. Countless lightning bolts sent ripples across the bell's surface, producing a string of ding ding ding sounds.

"Are you scratching an itch over there?" Every lightning bolt was blocked by the Golden Bell Shield. Xue Ke lost interest in continuing to play with Yu Tianheng. Her figure flashed, and she threw another punch at his chest. Yu Tianheng was blasted off the Soul Fighting Arena once again, leaving a huge crater in the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he fell unconscious.

"Tian Heng!" Dugu Yan cried out.

"Don't worry, Sister Yan. He's fine." With such a powerful healer as Ye Lingling around, it would be difficult for Yu Tianheng to die even if he wanted to.

Under Ye Lingling's treatment, more than half of Yu Tianheng's injuries recovered. He slowly stood up, looked deeply at Xue Ke, and said earnestly, word by word, "Very good. I acknowledge you. I consider you the strongest member of the Imperial Fighting Team."

"???" Xue Ke was full of question marks. Does this expressionless guy have that Mental Illness? I beat you into this state—shouldn't you be roaring at me in rage? This isn't how the script goes!