Hero Test

Upon entering the Changing Room, Josen received a wristband like those handed out at bathhouses, just like the other applicants. Each wristband corresponded to a locker for storing their clothes.

Under the association's rules, no equipment was allowed during the tests. Male applicants could wear nothing but a pair of shorts provided by the association.

Female applicants, meanwhile, were allowed a sports bra as well.

Female Heroes had always been in the minority. Today, for instance, practically everyone who had shown up for recruitment was a beast of a man.

The Changing Room had no shortage of bodybuilder-level muscleheads, who were gathered together flexing their enormous pecs and trading weightlifting tips.

The atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

Testosterone levels throughout the Changing Room were off the charts, but Josen paid none of it any mind and simply took off his shirt.

"Oh? This young man..."

The moment Josen removed his shirt, a quiet exclamation came from a corner of the Changing Room.

A tall frame, smoothly defined muscles, an exaggerated V-shaped torso-the bonuses from countless attribute cards had created this body of steel. Josen's own hard work had absolutely nothing to do with it.

An exceptionally spry silver-haired old man opened his eyes wide, an intense gleam bursting within them. "Perfect! Absolutely perfect proportions, and a talent for martial arts visible to the naked eye. This young man is a rare diamond in the rough!"

Gasp-

On the other side of the room, a powerful surge of Spider-Sense hit Josen, instantly alerting him to the gaze behind him.

Turning his head slightly, he saw a lively old man who looked well past seventy smiling kindly at him. Then, just like everyone else, the old man calmly removed his shirt, revealing outrageously powerful muscles like slabs of granite.

Josen: !!

"Holy shit, this old guy!"

Someone nearby cried out in astonishment. Young men were one thing, but how could an ordinary-looking old fellow you might see in a park have such an incredible physique?

His kindly, squint-eyed smile was completely at odds with muscles that looked capable of crushing someone to death with one hand. The contrast was deeply jarring.

Had this world gone mad?

Silver Fang, Bang.

Recognizing the old man, Josen relaxed.

Oh, then that explained it.

The future third-ranked S-Class Hero, a monster of a martial artist who had been unbeatable in his youth, and one of the greatest fighting forces on the side of both the Hero Association and humanity.

Josen gave a slight nod, acknowledging Bang's goodwill.

He put his belongings in his locker, locked it, and headed toward the testing area with the other applicants.

Bang walked on the other side of the group, occasionally glancing back to study Josen's build and posture, his eyes shining intensely.

That burning gaze gave Josen a headache.

Remembering this martial arts master's fondness for taking on students made his headache even worse.

Training in martial arts meant suffering. Why suffer when I could just cheat?

Nope, nope. Not messing with that...

The enormous venue had been divided into individual testing areas. First came the standard measurements-height, weight, eyesight, lung capacity, and so on. Once all his data had been recorded, Josen spotted the sweet, delicate Lanny waiting for him at the entrance to the strength-testing room.

"Officer Josen, please follow me."

Josen nodded and followed. They had barely taken two steps when the old man's voice suddenly sounded behind them. "Excuse me, young lady. May I join you?"

"Ah..."

Lanny froze. Turning around, she found an absurdly muscular old man standing behind her, though she had no idea when he had arrived. He was giving her a lecherous... no, a cheerful smile, silently asking for her permission.

"Sir..."

Lanny was about to explain when Josen, standing beside her, offered a reminder. "This is Master Bang, the martial artist."

A martial artist?

"Oh? You know me, young man?"

For a moment, both Lanny and Bang were a little bewildered.

Josen nodded and offered some flattery. "Yes. I've had the privilege of seeing your Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, Master."

As he spoke, he casually demonstrated a few movements.

Bang broke into a sweat. Although the gestures looked convincing enough, he could tell at a glance that the young man before him had virtually no foundation in martial arts. "There's no need to call me a master. I'm just an ordinary old man who runs a dojo."

Josen leaned closer and whispered, "Not at all. I happen to know a little about your exploits in your younger days, Master."

"Hmm?" Bang straightened slightly, a trace of murderous intent entering his eyes. "Don't you know a little too much, boy?"

Recalling his glory days, Bang's aged face reddened. "Ahem... let's leave the past in the past. What's your name, young man?"

"My name is Josen. I'm a police officer."

"Josen, then. Come visit my dojo sometime. It's not far from Z City, and the surroundings are quite pleasant."

"Sure. I'll stop by when I have time."

Left behind, Lanny watched the two men chat their way into the testing room without her and was momentarily dumbfounded. After briefly weighing her options, she hurried after them, her high heels clicking against the floor.

"Please follow me, both of you. We have a separate testing room over here."

Bang's eyes lit up. "No need to queue? Wonderful."

Josen gave him a sidelong glance. Aren't you being a little too uninhibited, old man?

Even if you're happy, you don't have to be so blatant about it.

Lanny led them to a massive machine that resembled a locomotive, then explained to the thoroughly confused staff why there were now two test takers instead of one.

Josen and Bang turned to look at each other.

"Young Josen, which of us should go first?"

"You first, Master. Let me watch you in action."

Bang nodded and dispensed with further formalities, raising his arms to loosen up. "Then I'll go first."

Before meeting Josen, Bang had merely been curious about the Hero Association. He had signed up for Hero recruitment partly to use his strength to do something for ordinary people, and partly to see whether this organization could live up to its claims.

As for the Hero Rankings, they had never entered the old man's considerations. He had intended to coast through the tests and be done with it.

But things were different now. He decided to show the young man before him what martial arts truly meant.

Standing bare-chested before the testing machine, Bang bent his knees slightly and sank into a firm horse stance. His graying hair and beard stirred without a breeze. With one hand raised and the other held behind his back, he traced two flawlessly rounded, pale-blue arcs through the air like Tai Chi, then suddenly threw a punch.

"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!"

As his sharp cry rang out, Spider-Sense activated.

With his perception abruptly slowed, Josen clearly observed every detail of Bang's punch and the release of his power. That seemingly light, casual strike brought together the finest martial techniques in this world, unleashing tremendous power with the slightest force. It was effortless and seamless, leaving no trace to grasp.

Crack!

The fist struck the leather pad with an explosive report of compressed air. The staff had barely reacted when the display above the testing machine gave a series of electronic dings, and three enormous nines flashed onto the screen.

"Whoa! Nine hundred and ninety-nine kilograms of punching force! No, wait-it exceeded the machine's measurement limit!"

"Mr... Bang, full marks on the strength test!"