Lightning Hand

Chang Hao first glanced at the people behind the director before turning to face him.

"Director, who is he? Is he new to the Bureau?"

Chang Hao had been with the Guangnan Province Investigation Bureau for several years, practically a veteran. He didn't recognize Lu Chengchuan at all. Could he be a recent recruit?

"Don't worry about it. Just spar with him. Remember, don't hold back, but don't kill him." Zhang Chengyan was very confident in him.

This was the most powerful Esper within the Guangnan Province Investigation Bureau. His lightning abilities made monsters scream, and he was even more adept at handling people. No one in the Bureau was his match.

Since his superior had spoken, Chang Hao nodded, ready to compete.

After speaking with his subordinate, Zhang Chengyan turned to Lu Chengchuan and asked, "Mr. Lu, how about it?"

"I'm ready. I can start anytime."

Lu Chengchuan nodded. Since he was here, they could begin without wasting time. He remembered Zhou Yaning mentioning she had found a new martial art for him. He wouldn't have come otherwise.

"Chang Hao, come over here." With both sides prepared, Zhang Chengyan called him over.

Chang Hao walked over to them.

He had been observing his opponent from behind. This person wasn't an Esper. Espers could sense each other. He was certain this man wasn't one.

This puzzled Chang Hao greatly. An ordinary person fighting an Esper? Wasn't the outcome obvious? Was the director so bored that he had to arrange such a pointless match?

"Let me introduce you. This is Team Leader Chang Hao, whose Esper ability is related to lightning. This is Lu Chengchuan, a very skilled martial artist."

Seeing is believing. Only a fight between the two would reveal the truth.

"A martial artist?" Chang Hao looked at Lu Chengchuan, a large question mark forming in his mind.

The Investigation Bureau wasn't without martial artists. They used to be quite formidable, but since the appearance of monsters, the Bureau's martial artists were no match for them, nor were they a match for Espers now.

"Get on with it, don't waste time."

Zhang Chengyan had seen many big scenes, but a battle between a martial artist and an Esper was rare, especially with a powerful martial artist like Lu Chengchuan. He was eagerly anticipating the upcoming fight.

"Please."

Lu Chengchuan stepped back, stopping about a dozen meters away.

Regardless of the other person's identity, whether martial artist or Esper, Chang Hao took the match seriously.

"Be careful, you might get hurt," Chang Hao warned him.

The lightning he unleashed wasn't like zapping mosquitoes. Even if he deliberately controlled it, a normal person would end up with their hair standing on end, their body numb, and on the ground.

He raised his arm, and a white bolt of lightning erupted in his hand. The lightning flowed around his arm, crackling and popping, creating a visually and aurally impressive display.

Espers. This phenomenon had been studied since the last century, with the conclusion that humans couldn't possess such abilities.

But now, with the appearance of monsters, the impossible had become reality. Many people had awakened Esper abilities, and various miraculous powers were displayed to the public through the internet.

Lu Chengchuan remained unmoved. This ability was indeed miraculous, but he wasn't an ordinary martial artist either. He was confident that his martial arts were no weaker than these Espers.

Chang Hao flicked his arm, and the lightning in his hand shot out instantly, striking directly in front of Lu Chengchuan.

The lightning was fast, but this man-made lightning was certainly not as fast as light. Lu Chengchuan could vaguely see the lightning coming, and he stood still, waiting for it.

Seeing that Lu Chengchuan hadn't reacted, Chang Hao lowered his arm. He had already won.

A normal person couldn't withstand this attack, and neither could most Espers. Only those with body enhancement abilities or protective abilities could endure it.

"Where are you going? The match isn't over yet."

The crackling sound disappeared, and Chang Hao turned to call someone to heal Lu Chengchuan.

But before he could fully turn around, Lu Chengchuan's voice sounded from behind. Chang Hao turned his head and saw Lu Chengchuan standing there unscathed, looking perfectly fine.

'Did he dodge it?'

A trace of confusion flashed through Chang Hao's mind, but when he saw Lu Chengchuan's hair, he knew the man hadn't dodged.

The man's hair was standing straight up, making him look like a hedgehog. This was proof that he hadn't evaded the attack.

Lu Chengchuan smoothed his hair down. This lightning was indeed unusual, but to think that a single bolt of lightning could defeat him was a bit of an underestimation.

Seeing him unharmed, Chang Hao abandoned his initial disdain and prepared to get serious.

A thicker bolt of lightning appeared on his arm. This time, he increased the power. If this lightning struck, not only would a person be injured, but even a monster would be hurt.

But Lu Chengchuan still stood motionless. The lightning struck him, and the exploding electricity rippled through Lu Chengchuan's clothes, causing his hair, which had just been smoothed down, to stand up again.

When the lightning dissipated, his clothes were charred black from the heat, but he himself was still unharmed.

A tingling sensation spread through his body, and his muscles became somewhat stiff. Chang Hao's lightning had 'injured' him. But he merely circulated his Inner Energy slightly, and the tingling and stiffness vanished instantly.

"This lightning is not bad."

Hearing him casually comment on his lightning like that, Chang Hao's pressure increased sharply. Was this a human? What kind of martial artist was so powerful? Could he be sure he wasn't a monster in disguise?

Not only did he have this question, but the few people watching from behind were also uneasy.

Zhang Chengyan suspected that Chang Hao was deliberately holding back, otherwise how could Lu Chengchuan have taken two lightning strikes without any effect? Zhou Yaning and her subordinates, however, weren't surprised at all.

They had seen Lu Chengchuan in action. He was a fierce man who could kill Ironclad Zombies with his bare hands. Enduring two lightning strikes was within their expectations. They weren't surprised in the slightest.

Lightning surged on Chang Hao's hand again, but this time Lu Chengchuan didn't stand still waiting to be attacked.

Inner Energy surged into his legs, and Lu Chengchuan dashed towards Chang Hao, his body instantly covering a distance of over ten meters. Chang Hao's eyes blurred, and he lost sight of Lu Chengchuan. By the time he reacted, Lu Chengchuan was already standing in front of him.

Chang Hao, startled, flung the lightning in his hand. The lightning was fast, but Lu Chengchuan dodged the attack. Evading the lightning, Lu Chengchuan swung his hand and landed a punch squarely in Chang Hao's stomach.

The punch connected, and excruciating pain shot from his abdomen to his back, causing his body to instinctively double over. Chang Hao then knelt forward in agony, his mouth agape as he dry-heaved incessantly.

The onlookers were stunned, but then, snapping out of it, a crowd of people rushed forward.

"Chang Hao! Are you alright?"

The usually composed Zhang Chengyan ran up, looking anxiously at the dry-heaving man on the ground.

Chang Hao retched a few times, spitting out some bitter fluid before finally recovering.

"I'm okay... It's nothing..." He didn't feel great, but he was far from dead.

Lu Chengchuan approached and, circulating his Inner Energy, helped him up. As the Inner Energy entered his body, the pain in Chang Hao's body rapidly subsided, and he felt much better.

"What... is this?"

Feeling the warm current within him, Chang Hao asked in surprise.