123: Humanoid Behemoth King Hammer

“Bang—”

“Beep beep beep—”

“Static strength 421kg, explosive punch 1624kg. Assessment passed, reaching the level of a First-Tier Professional.”

In the testing room, Wang Iron Hammer unleashed a punch.

The data feedback astonished Lu Yang.

He wondered how Wang Iron Hammer’s strength, which was only 18 points, and physique, 17 points, could have increased so much all of a sudden.

Lu Yang’s current static strength was only 385kg, and his explosive punch was 1320kg.

Don't think Lu Yang was weak; before crossing over, on the Blue Star where Lu Yang resided, the strongest boxer, Sen Tai, had a static strength of only 150kg and an explosive punch of 400kg.

Lu Yang: “Did you use your special ability after breaking through your limits just now?”

“Special ability? What’s that?” Wang Iron Hammer scratched his head, finding the baldness a bit strange, then put down his palm-sized hand after a quick feel.

After thinking seriously for a while, he suddenly entered a state of focus. “Is it like this?”

His already larger-than-Lu Yang physique suddenly expanded another size, reaching over 2.3 meters in height, with arms thicker than Lu Yang's thighs.

He swung his fist at the punching bag with all his might again, and a faint red bloody aura attached to his fist, just like it had attached to his battle-axe when he killed the Headless Ghoul earlier.

“Bang—”

“Beep beep beep—”

“Instrument malfunction—”

“Beep beep beep—”

“Instrument malfunction—”

“Please stop the test immediately!!”

“Please stop the test immediately!!”

Seeing Wang Iron Hammer looking somewhat like a child who had done something wrong, Lu Yang walked over, intending to pat his shoulder to comfort him that it was alright.

However, he found he couldn’t reach, so he patted his arm instead. “Iron Hammer, you’re amazing. Don’t mind the alarm; this broken machine we picked up is too crappy to test your full strength.”

“From now on, every day, you’ll come to me in the daytime, and I’ll have someone give you special adaptive strength training. In the evening, you’ll continue honing your skills in Wasteland Online.”

“As for physique enhancement potions, I will provide you with one before and after each training session. If it’s not enough, I’ll replenish them at any time. You just need to train well and unleash your combat power when the Xinhuo Train needs you, and my efforts will not be in vain.”

Wang Iron Hammer was a man of few words. Hearing Lu Yang’s speech, the two-meter-tall man’s eyes reddened slightly.

Since arriving at the Xinhuo Train, his life had undergone a huge transformation. Not only could he eat his fill every day, but the Train Captain also gave him work to do.

Now, even precious physique enhancement potions were being supplied openly.

Wang Iron Hammer didn't know the saying, ‘A scholar dies for his confidant, a woman adorns herself for her beloved.’

But he knew who treated him well and who treated him poorly.

So, after listening to Lu Yang’s words, he thumped his chest, uttering a simple, muffled sound: “Train Captain, rest assured, from now on, as long as you have a command, I, Iron Hammer, will complete it even if it costs me my life.”

“Although I, Iron Hammer, am not smart, I can distinguish between those who treat me well and those who treat me poorly. I promise to obey, first your words, then Captain Yang's and the others'. I will never slack off or be lazy in training and will complete my tasks fully.”

Lu Yang nodded.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked, “Oh, by the way, Iron Hammer, have you always had such a large appetite since childhood, and was your strength stronger than your peers?”

Wang Iron Hammer thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Not really. It was when I was fleeing in the wilderness once. I and a few companions were starving, so we dug up some black, unknown wild vegetables to eat.”

“After a few bites, the others, perhaps poisoned, all fainted with purple lips and never woke up. I was so hungry my vision was blurry, and seeing that they weren't eating anymore, I didn't care if it was poisonous or not and poured the rest, including the soup, into my stomach.”

“Later, I also felt soreness all over my body, but I didn't faint. After sleeping for a night, I was fine the next day. After that, I found my strength and appetite growing every day, and my stomach often became hungrier.”

Hearing Wang Iron Hammer recount this untold secret, Lu Yang made a mental note.

If what Wang Iron Hammer said was true, it meant his mutation occurred after the apocalypse.

This explained why his strength was so much greater than others'.

Ordinary humans weren't this powerful.

The extent of Yang Kui's improvement was considered normal.

Clearly, Wang Iron Hammer’s genes had mutated because of that unknown wild vegetable.

It truly echoed that famous American comic saying: “Rich rely on technology, poor rely on mutation.”

However, Wang Iron Hammer’s story also gave Lu Yang a reminder.

It seemed there were also strange herbs in the wilderness that could enhance the strength of ordinary people.

Perhaps in the future, if there was an opportunity, he could collect some and use the Potion Configuration Table to simulate their configuration and see the effects.

Even if he could only discover one or two useful ones, it would be a huge gain.

— — — —

Evening.

Train Captain’s carriage.

Lu Yang called Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess, who was still on the train.

His original intention was to invite her to try the freshly made mental enhancement potion.

Because he found that the strength of the Heroic Spirit's abilities seemed to be related to the strength of one's mental power.

However, the moment he saw Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess, he was stunned.

Tonight, Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess wore an ink-silk off-shoulder gown that clung to her undulating, graceful curves like a second skin.

The dress’s design appeared extremely restrained, yet it was provocatively alluring in its subtlety.

The deep V-neckline stopped perfectly above the bust line, fully exposing her delicate collarbones and rounded shoulders. That expanse of skin glowed with a cold, porcelain-like luster in the dim light, forming a stark contrast with the dark silk, enticing the gaze to linger.

Two extremely thin dark-gold chains wrapped from the back of her neck, meeting at the center of her collarbones, from which hung a tear-shaped, ethereal purple soul crystal. It rose and fell gently with her breathing, almost threatening to plunge into the inviting shadows beneath.

Especially the particularly prominent nipples on her chest.

Did she only wear this one piece?!

This thought suddenly popped into Lu Yang’s mind.

Then, distracting thoughts, like weeds, began to grow and spread wantonly.

Even his act of swallowing saliva was so obvious.

Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess seemed not to notice Lu Yang’s unusual behavior.

She merely bowed respectfully.

That perfectly positioned expanse of fair skin before Lu Yang’s eyes allowed him to fully take in sights he both wanted and didn't want to see.

It was only after a long while that he seemed to react, telling Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess to rise.

This, however, seemed to ignite a hint of dissatisfaction deep within Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess.

Her slender eyebrows, like distant mountains, subtly arched upwards, the dark-gold eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes subtly blended upwards, and her full, luscious lips, like ripe cherries, parted slightly, approaching Lu Yang with a faint, alluring fragrance.

“Great Holy Spirit Master, do you dislike me?”

“As a Heroic Spirit, I should dedicate everything to you, and this is also the reward you are due from the beginning of our contract.”

“But now, you seem to be a little hesitant!!”

She leaned forward, the smooth dark silk outlining an astonishing curve from her waist to her hip line.

Seeing that Lu Yang made no further moves, she boldly wrapped her fair, jade-like arms around Lu Yang’s neck.

The moment their skin met, a chill ran through her, causing her body to ripple with an almost imperceptible tremor.

At this point, Lu Yang finally reacted.

It turned out that he had become the ‘prey’.

However, the shift in identity between prey and hunter can sometimes happen in an instant.

As Lu Yang’s broad, powerful arms began to exert force, the initiative instantly shifted to a different protagonist.

The dark silk dress silently slipped away.

The electronic counter in the Train Captain’s carriage began to flash red, second by second.

As if someone was witnessing all of this firsthand.

And on Xiao Xin’s intelligent display screen, a series of data refreshed like a tidal wave.

Waist bent ninety-three degrees, right leg lifted sideways.

Movement amplitude one hundred three, lasting 32 seconds.

Movement amplitude one hundred forty-nine, lasting 171 seconds.

Amplitude rapidly increasing, richness of micro-expressions increased by 1314%.

Estimated duration 7 hours 52 minutes, data recording in progress—

Continued observation recommended!!