One Punch, White Eyes

The recruits nearby who were straining as if constipated were also attracted by the commotion between the two. Since they could not get anything out anyway, they simply decided to watch the fun.

Just like that, a circle of people formed around the two. Zephyr and Shuzo stood at a vantage point, making critical remarks. "Shuzo, do you think this kid Ainz can break Carl's Iron Body?"

Shuzo shook his head. "Impossible, absolutely impossible. With Ainz's thin arms and skinny legs, anyway, I think it's impossible. What about you, Instructor?"

Although Shuzo was not clear about who would be stronger in a real fight, as for defense, isn't having more muscles what made you meaty? Carl at least looked quite meaty, while Ainz was not in the same league as him at all, looking just like a scrawny chicken.

Zephyr smiled and patted Shuzo's shoulder. "Hahaha, no one knows Carl's strength better than old man me. That fellow isn't so easily defeated!"

There were a bit too many onlookers, and Ainz's pressure shot right up. In other people's eyes, he was second only to Carl. If his full-power strike failed to even break Carl's defense, how embarrassing would that be!

Thinking of this, Ainz, who had originally only planned to vent his anger, felt flames rise in his eyes. He glared fixedly at Carl and gave a loud shout.

"Ninja Art: Great Piercing Hand!"

Ainz spread his slender arms, stomped his left foot fiercely against the ground, and leaped up. In mid-air, he pulled his arms back like a spring compressed to the absolute limit, and his body lunged fiercely toward Carl, who stood unmoving in place.

"Ha!"

Double dragons leaving the sea—cough, cough—he thrust out both fists simultaneously. At that moment, he practically looked like a god of war!

Ainz's attack struck Carl's chest without a single suspense. Only a thud! was heard, followed by a crack of broken bones, and Carl neatly flew backward.

By this time, he was already lying on the ground at death's door, seemingly wanting to say something, but after spewing a stream of blood, he immediately paid tribute to Luffy, rolling his eyes as a warning.

Before losing consciousness, Carl's only sensation was a fiery pain in his chest, just like getting shot. Damn it, I thought using Iron Body would save me a bit of suffering, but I didn't expect to get hurt this badly!

What a fucking stupid defensive technique!

Ainz: ???

Ainz looked at his own hands in disbelief, thinking, Am I actually this strong? I defeated Carl, who was using Iron Body, in just a single move!

The surrounding recruits broke into an uproar. Quite a few of them felt that this punch carried at least a little bit of personal grievance. Ainz usually looked so amiable, yet he threw such a heavy hand! He would definitely have to be kept at a distance in the future.

"What!"

Zephyr sprang up in a start, reached Carl's side in two or three steps, and squatted down to extend a finger. He was still breathing.

"Quick! Quickly take Carl to the infirmary!"

Zephyr was in no mood to interrogate Ainz about why he struck so ruthlessly right now. He only cared about Carl's physical condition; after all, he was the future Light of the Marines!

Several strong recruits hurriedly lifted a stretcher out of the utility room and escorted Carl to the infirmary.

Thirty minutes later.

With an anxious expression on his face, Zephyr asked the doctor, "How is Carl's condition? Is it serious?"

The doctor took off his face mask and said with a solemn expression, "Instructor Zephyr, this Mr. Carl's condition is not optimistic. Three ribs are broken, with the fractured ends bent inward. At the same time, the soft tissue of the chest wall is damaged, the intra-thoracic organs have suffered injury, and there is a distinct chest hematoma."

"Doctor, don't tell me all this. The old man just wants to ask if his life is in danger, and if he'll be left with any lingering sequelae?"

After pondering for a moment, the doctor said, "You can rest assured about this. Injuries of this sort are not fatal. As for the matter of sequelae, it's not clear yet and requires a period of observation."

Hearing that there was no danger to his life, Zephyr instantly breathed a sigh of relief, and could not help starting to wonder in his heart: Carl's physique was the strongest among this batch of recruits, so how could he fail to withstand even a single punch?

"That's good, that's good. By the way, can I go see him now?"

"I'm very sorry, but it's recommended that you best wait until his condition improves before visiting, so as not to affect the patient's recovery."

Zephyr let out a helpless sigh. "Alright then, the old man will come back after a while."

Returning to the training ground, an enraged Zephyr grabbed Ainz by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to a corner, roaring right in his face, "Ainz! What on earth was the situation with today's matter? Give the old man an honest account!"

Ainz scratched his head aggrievedly. He didn't know either! Just a moment ago, Instructor Shuzo refused to believe it and specifically called on him to use that move again.

As a result, Shuzo easily blocked his attack without even using Iron Body, and his final evaluation was: How on earth did someone with this kind of utter crap strength manage to injure Carl so severely?

There was no help for it, though. Facing the respected Instructor Zephyr, he honestly recounted the whole sequence of events. After listening, Zephyr still had no clue, so he simply had Ainz return to the training ground.

"This kid really is a bit strange! First it was Ain, and now it's Ainz. Why does the old man always feel like this little bastard did it on purpose?"

Yet if Zephyr knew what framing someone for insurance fraud was, he would certainly have dropped the "feel" with confidence.

Ding, cumulative slacking duration has reached eight hours. Daily quest completed, reward: Designated Attribute Enhancement Card * 2, Six Powers: Iron Body Skill Card * 1, Happy Fat-House Water * 1.

Hearing the prompt in his mind, Carl instantly snapped awake, but immediately gasped in a sharp breath of cold air. Pain, far too painful!

Looking down, his chest was wrapped tightly, and an intravenous drip was hanging beside him. Carl could not help sighing: As expected, I still ended up in the hospital! Although the slacking was successful, it sure causes suffering too!

Hah~ I can't take it, it hurts, hurts!

Carl barely managed to raise his right hand, condensed a ball of Holy Light, and slapped it onto his body. A warm surge of energy began to wander through Carl's body, and the pain instantly eased quite a bit.

Relying on the abundant stamina recovered by [Still as a Virgin], Carl hurriedly went for another shot, immediately feeling that his injuries were mostly healed.

Ah~ much more comfortable, this ability really is very useful!

Carl estimated that one more shot and his injuries would be practically recovered, but he had better stop right here! If he really healed up completely, wouldn't his injury have been in vain? No matter what, he had to lie here for ten days to half a month first, at least until he had slacked off enough to justify his sacrifice.

Screeech— The door to the ward was pushed open, and a nurse with long, golden wavy hair walked in. She wore a white nurse's uniform, crystal stud earrings, and held an iron tray in her hand that was fully loaded with medicines.

Seeing that Carl was awake, she seemed somewhat pleasantly surprised. She hurriedly set the tray aside, came to Carl's side, and asked with concern, "Mr. Carl, you're awake! How are you feeling?"

A wave of fragrance washed over him, and Carl was somewhat pleasantly surprised. How come he had never seen such a pretty nurse the last time he came to the infirmary?

"Mm, I feel pretty good, just a little ache left in my chest."

The female nurse's lips curved up slightly, revealing a gentle smile. "Aside from your chest, how is it? Are any other places uncomfortable?"

Carl shook his head. There certainly had been earlier, but once he self-treated, his body was practically all better, so what discomfort could possibly remain?

"That's good. I'm going to change your dressing in a moment. It might hurt a little bit, so don't thrash around, okay?"