One Punch, Eyes Rolled Back

The recruits around them who were "holding it in" were drawn over by the commotion as well. Since they could not squeeze anything out anyway, they might as well watch the show.

Just like that, a circle of people gathered around the two. Zephyr and Shuzo stood on higher ground, offering their commentary. "Shuzo, do you think Ainz can break through Carl's Iron Body?"

Shuzo shook his head. "Impossible, absolutely impossible. Look at Ainz's skinny arms and legs. I don't think he can do it. What about you, Instructor?"

Although Shuzo did not know who would be stronger in a real fight, when it came to defense, more muscle meant more toughness, right? At the very least, Carl looked much tougher. Ainz was nowhere near his level, skinny as a plucked chicken.

Zephyr laughed and patted Shuzo on the shoulder. "Hahaha, no one knows Carl's strength better than I do. That kid won't be defeated so easily!"

There were quite a few spectators, and Ainz's pressure suddenly shot up. In everyone else's eyes, he was second only to Carl. If his full-power strike could not even break Carl's defense, how embarrassing would that be?

Thinking of that, flames rose in Ainz's eyes. What had originally been nothing more than an attempt to vent his frustration turned serious as he stared fiercely at Carl and let out a shout.

"Ninja Art: Great Piercing Hand!"

Ainz spread his slender arms wide, stomped his left foot hard against the ground, and leaped into the air. Midair, he drew his arms back. Like a spring compressed to its limit, he lunged fiercely at Carl, who stood motionless where he was.

"Ha!"

Twin dragons emerging from the sea—cough, cough—both fists shot forward. At that moment, he looked just like a god of war!

Ainz's attack slammed into Carl's chest without suspense. There was a bang, followed by the crack of bone, and Carl flew away cleanly.

By then, he was already lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. He seemed to want to say something, but after coughing up a spray of blood, he immediately paid tribute to Monkey D. Luffy, rolling his eyes back in warning.

Before losing consciousness, Carl felt only a burning pain in his chest, like he had been shot. Damn it, he had thought Iron Body would spare him some suffering. Who knew he would still be hurt this badly!

What kind of idiotic defensive technique was this?!

Ainz: ???

Ainz stared at his hands in disbelief. Was I really this strong? I defeated Carl while he was using Iron Body with just one move!

The watching recruits erupted into an uproar. Quite a few of them felt that this punch carried a personal grudge. Ainz looked so mild-mannered, yet he struck so ruthlessly! They had better keep their distance from him in the future.

"What?!"

Zephyr sprang to his feet and reached Carl's side in a few quick steps. He crouched down and extended a finger. There was still breathing.

"Quick! Get Carl to the infirmary!"

Zephyr had no mood to question why Ainz had hit so hard. All he cared about now was Carl's condition. Carl was the future light of the Navy!

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

Thirty minutes later.

Zephyr asked the doctor anxiously, "How is Carl? Is it serious?"

The doctor removed his mask, his expression grave. "Instructor Zephyr, Mr. Carl's condition is not optimistic. He has three broken ribs, with the fractured ends bent inward. The soft tissue of the chest wall is also damaged, and his internal chest organs have suffered injuries. There is obvious hematoma in his chest."

"Doctor, don't tell me all that. I only want to know whether his life is in danger and whether he'll be left with any lasting effects."

After pondering for a moment, the doctor said, "Please rest assured, these injuries are not fatal. As for any lasting effects, that is still unclear for now. We will need to observe him for a while."

Hearing that Carl's life was not in danger, Zephyr finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yet he could not help feeling puzzled. Carl's physique was the strongest among this batch of recruits, so how could he fail to withstand even one punch?

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

"I'm sorry, but I recommend waiting until his condition improves before visiting him, so as not to affect his recovery."

Zephyr sighed helplessly. "All right, I'll come back after some time."

After returning to the training grounds, Zephyr, burning with anger, grabbed Ainz and dragged him to a corner. He shouted at him without preamble, "Ainz! What exactly happened today? Tell me the truth!"

Ainz scratched his head miserably. He did not know either! Just now, Instructor Shuzo had refused to believe it and specifically told him to use that move again.

In the end, Shuzo easily blocked his attack without even using Iron Body. His final assessment was, "How the hell did strength this pathetic injure Carl so badly?"

But with no other choice, Ainz honestly explained everything to the instructor he respected. Zephyr was still at a loss after hearing it, so he could only send Ainz back to the training grounds.

"That kid really is a little strange! First it was Ain on the first day, and now it's Ainz. Why do I keep feeling that little brat did it on purpose?"

But if Zephyr had known what staging an accident was, he would definitely have confidently dropped the words "I feel."

"Ding. Total accumulated slacking time has reached eight hours. Daily mission 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 woke up, only to suck in a sharp breath right afterward. It hurt—hurt like hell!

Looking down, he saw that his chest was wrapped up tightly, with an IV drip hanging beside him. Carl could not help sighing. As expected, he had ended up in the hospital! He had successfully slacked off, but he had suffered for it too!

"Whew... I can't take it. It hurts, it hurts!"

Carl barely raised his right hand and condensed a ball of Holy Light, pressing it against himself. A warm energy began flowing through his body, and the pain immediately lessened considerably.

With the abundant stamina restored by [Still as a Virgin], Carl quickly cast it again. At once, he felt that his injuries were already seven or eight-tenths healed.

"Ah, that feels much better. This ability really is useful!"

Carl figured that one more cast would heal him almost completely, but he stopped there. If he recovered completely now, would he not have suffered for nothing? No matter what, he had to lie here for ten days or half a month first. At the very least, he needed to slack off enough to make his sacrifice worthwhile.

"Creak—" The ward door opened, and a nurse with long, wavy golden hair walked in. She wore a white nurse's uniform and crystal earrings, carrying a metal tray filled with medicine.

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

A fragrant breeze drifted over, and Carl was a little surprised. There was actually such a beautiful nurse in the infirmary? Why had he not seen her the last time he came?

"Mm, I feel pretty good. My chest still hurts a little, though."

The nurse's lips curved slightly into a gentle smile. "Other than your chest, is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?"

Carl shook his head. There had been, but after treating himself, his body was almost completely healed. What could possibly still feel uncomfortable?

"That's good. I'll be changing your medicine later. It may hurt a little, so don't move around, okay?"