81: Zhang Lei makes his appearance

A mountain-shaking, tsunami-like roar instantly drowned out the entire Training Ground! Amidst the fanatical waves of sound, Zhang Lei slowly rose. He didn't walk down the steps; instead, with a "shua" sound, a pair of massive and gorgeous Ice-Fire Wings unfolded from his back! The left side was a ghostly blue ice wing, condensed from ice crystals and overflowing with cold air, while the right side was a crimson fire wing with rising flames and rolling heat waves! With a gentle flap of his wings, he descended to the center of the Training Ground as elegantly and swiftly as a descending god. He landed steadily, and as his wings folded, they dissipated into specks of red and blue light.

Wang Kun took a deep breath and strode forward, solemnly cupping his fists in salute to Zhang Lei. His voice was loud and clear, carrying a hint of awe: "Officer Zhang! I am Wang Kun. I know our strengths are worlds apart, but I ask for your guidance! Let me witness the battle of a true powerhouse!"

Zhang Lei's expression was calm as he gave a slight nod. "No need for such formalities. Since this is a match, I shall naturally go all out. We are colleagues, so we will stop at the point of contact. Let me see your strength." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying the unique confidence and composure of the strong.

Before his voice had even faded, a faint layer of intertwined red and blue light suddenly lit up around Zhang Lei! Like mercury spreading across the ground, a suit of ancient, majestic armor with smooth lines instantly covered his entire body! The main body of the armor was a deep red and blue, like a perfect fusion of lava and ice. Its surface flowed with a cold, brilliant, gem-like luster. Sharp horn-like shapes, resembling those of a Qilin, extended from both sides of the helmet. The pauldrons were thick, and profound ice and fire runes were engraved on the breastplate! With the Ice-Fire God Armor donned, Zhang Lei's aura surged abruptly, making him look like a god of war stepping out of myth!

He did not summon the Fire Qilin. That was a trump card for dealing with powerful enemies; against the Rank One Wang Kun, it was far from necessary.

“Roar!” Seeing this, a raging fighting spirit also ignited in Wang Kun's eyes! He let out a low growl, his eyes widening as the muscles all over his body swelled and knotted violently like they were being inflated! The veins under his skin writhed frantically like awakening dragons! In the blink of an eye, a giant over three meters tall, with granite-like, well-defined muscles radiating explosive power, appeared in the field! His Superpower, [Muscle Gigantification], gave him unparalleled strength and terrifying physical defense!

A faint, battle-hungry arc curled at the corner of Zhang Lei's mouth. He didn't use the flames that could boil the sea, nor the ice that could freeze all things; instead, he chose the purest form of martial arts! He exerted force with his feet, causing the ground to shake slightly, and his entire being turned into a red-and-blue stream of light, instantly closing in on Wang Kun! His movements were fast as lightning yet possessed a flowing beauty. Every punch and kick brought a whistling gale; the edges of his fist-winds even frictioned against the air, exploding with sparks of crimson fire like blooming flowers of flame, leaving gorgeous trails in the air!

“Bang bang bang! Boom boom boom!”

The intense sounds of collision exploded like dense drumbeats! Wang Kun roared, his massive fists swinging frantically like battering rams, trying to suppress Zhang Lei with raw power. However, Zhang Lei's footwork was agile to the extreme! He was like a butterfly flitting through flowers, weaving, dodging, and counterattacking through the gaps in Wang Kun's violent assaults! His fists, elbows, and knees—all covered by the Ice-Fire God Armor—landed precise strikes on the weakest points of Wang Kun's muscles or at the nodes of his power generation, carrying a terrifying force far beyond Wang Kun's imagination!

The audience below was mesmerized! Zhang Lei's incredibly cool Ice-Fire God Armor and his battle posture, which resembled a dance of flames, triggered tsunami-like cheers with every flash of red and blue light. Wang Kun's terrifying power, like that of a humanoid beast, also earned bursts of amazement.

The more Wang Kun fought, the more alarmed he became! The strength and defense he took pride in seemed so clumsy before Zhang Lei! The opponent's every strike was incredibly precise and hit with frighteningly heavy force. Even with Muscle Gigantification acting as a buffer, the areas hit throbbed with intense pain and numbness! He felt like a wild bull being toyed with, possessing great strength but nowhere to apply it.

Finally, after a failed attempt to grapple Zhang Lei, Zhang Lei seized an opening. His body spun like a windmill, and he delivered a flying side kick infused with powerful force. Like a burning meteor, it slammed hard against Wang Kun's crossed, blocking arms!

“Boom—!”

A dull explosion sounded, one that made people's hearts skip a beat!

Wang Kun only felt an irresistible, mountain-torrent-like force surge from his arms! His massive three-meter-tall body was actually sent flying backward uncontrollably, feet leaving the ground like a kite with a broken string!

“Thud!”

Dust flew everywhere! Wang Kun crashed heavily onto the ground over a dozen meters away, causing the earth to shake. He struggled to sit up, feeling only sharp pain and numbness in his arms, his chest heaving with churning blood, and every muscle in his body seemingly wailing in agony.

He shook his dizzy head and looked at Zhang Lei in the distance, who stood with his leg retracted, his god armor shining brightly and his breathing as steady as a mountain. A bitter smile appeared on Wang Kun's face. He struggled to his feet and gave Zhang Lei a deep bow, his voice filled with sincere admiration and a hint of helplessness: "Thank you, Officer Zhang, for showing mercy! I, Wang Kun... am thoroughly convinced! The gap is just too large!"

Zhang Lei also restrained his aura, and the Ice-Fire God Armor turned into streams of light that vanished into his body. He walked forward, personally helped Wang Kun up, and patted his still rock-solid shoulder, his tone sincere and encouraging: "Don't be discouraged. The difference in rank is like a chasm. You have a solid foundation and no small amount of potential. Work hard to improve and break through to Rank Two soon! When that time comes, come find me for another spar! The base needs strength like yours!" There wasn't a hint of condescension in his words, only expectations for a comrade.

Hearing this, fighting spirit reignited in Wang Kun's eyes, and he nodded vigorously: "Yes! Officer! I, Wang Kun, will not fail your expectations!"

Zhang Lei gave him a slight nod. Then, with a flash of red and blue light beneath his feet, the Ice-Fire Wings unfolded once more. With a gentle flap, he flew back to the rostrum like a divine bird and sat down composedly. The entire process was so elegant and dashing that the screams from the fans below almost blew the roof off!

“Lord Zhang Lei is too handsome! The god armor! The wings! Ahhh! I'm going to faint!”

“This Superpower was practically born for looking cool! It's strong and awesome!”

“I want to have his babies! Nobody stop me!”

Watching Zhang Lei return, Jiang Feifei's eyes were also full of worshipful little stars. She picked up the microphone, her voice full of pride and charisma: "Lord Zhang Lei's strength is obvious to everyone! His Superpower is not only cool, but it is also the strongest protective force of our base! With such a guardian deity here, the recovery of Lujiang is just around the corner! Everyone, wouldn't you say so?!"

“YES—!!!” The earth-shattering response echoed through the clouds, filled with worship for the strong and firm confidence in the future!