Chapter 8: Four Arms
"Oh, come on. Stop pretending to be humble," Su Ke said, hands on his hips and feigning anger. "I'm already at the third stage. There's no way you two are worse than me. If you know what's good for you, spill it."
"What?!" Wang Zhong exclaimed. "Old Ke, you're already at the third stage? This…"
"What?" Su Ke shot back. "You don't think I could do it?"
Lin Ning raised her hand, wanting to smack Wang Zhong on the back. She actually aimed for the back of his head, but it was too high, and she couldn't reach it.
"Don't talk nonsense," she said. "Old Ke, he didn't mean it like that. It's just that when you went through your Awakening, well… uh…"
"Hahaha!" Su Ke laughed. "Relax. My Supernatural Ability is pretty special. The conditions weren't met back then. It wasn't until I reached the first stage, first segment that it fully awakened. Let me tell you, my Supernatural Ability is insanely strong."
Wang Zhong let out a hearty laugh, his tone clearly relieved. "Hahahaha! That's great! I was worried I'd have to watch my words so I wouldn't hurt your feelings. Now I don't have to."
Lin Ning looked curious. "You're really something. Old Ke, what exactly does your Supernatural Ability watch do?"
"Well," Su Ke said, glancing at Wang Zhong, "Old Wang, your Supernatural Ability is power enhancement, right?"
Hearing this, Wang Zhong puffed out his chest proudly. "That's right. My Supernatural Ability is Physical Body type, and my talent is Muscle Reinforcement. Right now, it boosts all my physical attributes by 3 times."
"Strength, stamina, jumping ability, and even speed are all greatly enhanced," he added.
"In that case," Su Ke said, "let's find a place and fight. You'll understand then."
"Huh?" Lin Ning froze. "You want to fight him?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Su Ke replied calmly.
"Old Ke, you might not be very clear about his Supernatural Ability," Lin Ning said worriedly. "I've seen him fight. His destructive power is terrifying, and he's already broken through to the fourth stage. That's the first major watershed."
"It's fine," Su Ke said. "My strength isn't bad either. Besides, it's not like we're going all out."
"But—"
"It's nothing," Wang Zhong interrupted. "Don't worry. I'll hold back."
"Alright," Lin Ning relented. "There's a Martial Arts Hall near my house. Let's go there."
"Let's go!" Wang Zhong grinned. "Loser treats everyone to dinner!"
The three arrived at the Martial Arts Hall. After Lin Ning spoke with the staff, they were assigned a medium-sized combat arena.
Although it was only medium-sized, it still covered 1000 square meters.
Spirit Energy Users possessed all kinds of strange Supernatural Abilities. Anything smaller would truly be insufficient.
Su Ke and Wang Zhong stood facing each other, with Lin Ning acting as the referee.
"Both sides, take your positions!"
Wang Zhong activated his Supernatural Ability, and his muscles began to swell visibly. His entire physique grew larger, yet his clothes, made of special material, stretched without tearing.
Su Ke activated his dial and rotated it to a new Alien Hero.
"Duel—start!"
Su Ke pressed the dial, and green light flashed. His body rapidly grew taller and more robust, 2 additional arms sprouted beneath his original ones, his skin turned red, and his muscles bulged grotesquely.
An Omnitrix symbol appeared on his upper left arm.
"Four Arms!"
Wang Zhong and Lin Ning's eyes widened, their mouths hanging open in shock.
"So you're not a Manifestation-type," Wang Zhong said incredulously. "You're a Beast Transformation type. What kind of beast is this? I've never seen anything like it."
"Cool, right?" Su Ke grinned. "I call him Four Arms."
"Dominating name," Wang Zhong said, taking a stance. "But I won't be scared!"
He charged forward.
"Come on! Let me see your strength!"
Su Ke dashed forward as well.
The two collided head-on, pushing against each other in a pure contest of strength.
They shoved back and forth, neither giving ground.
"You're pretty strong," Wang Zhong said through clenched teeth. "Being able to hold out this long against me. But unfortunately, I'm at the fourth stage."
He suddenly exerted more force, pushing Four Arms backward.
"You are stronger in raw power," Su Ke admitted, "but haven't you heard that 2 fists can't match 4 hands?"
The 2 extra arms struck forward, slamming fiercely into Wang Zhong's abdomen.
The blow nearly made him vomit everything he had eaten.
Seizing the opening, Su Ke grabbed Wang Zhong and hurled him backward.
With a heavy thud, Wang Zhong smashed into the ground.
Afterward, Su Ke flexed his muscles.
"So, who's the strongman now?"
Wang Zhong climbed to his feet.
"Alright, alright," he said grimly. "So this is how you want to play? Bullying people with extra arms? Fine. I won't hold back anymore."
A ray of light gathered around his right hand.
This was the prelude to activating a skill.
"Take this—Stone Shattering Fist!"
His fist surged forward, carrying terrifying power.
With Four Arms' jumping ability, Su Ke could have dodged easily. Instead, he crossed all 4 arms to block, wanting to test the attack's strength.
He instantly regretted it.
The impact felt like being hit by a speeding vehicle. Su Ke was sent flying backward, his arm nearly going numb from the shock.
Looking at Su Ke on the ground, Wang Zhong flexed.
"So, who's the strongman now?"
Su Ke staggered to his feet, rubbing his arm.
"Alright, I'll admit you've got skill," he said calmly. "But if that's all you've got, then this is where it ends."
He twisted the Omnitrix symbol on his shoulder.
Light flashed, and his form changed.
His body became wreathed in blazing flames.
"Heatblast!"
The shock on Wang Zhong and Lin Ning's faces was even greater than before.
"Holy crap!" Wang Zhong shouted. "You can transform into 2 forms? That's cheating!"
"I never said I could only transform once," Su Ke replied evenly.
Lin Ning frowned. "It's clearly the same Supernatural Ability, yet it has 2 completely different effects. How is that possible?"
"In this world," Su Ke said, "nothing is impossible."
He raised his hands, condensing flames into a blazing fireball, then hurled it forward.
The fireball shot toward Wang Zhong at high speed. Without dodging, Wang Zhong threw a punch and shattered it.
The moment they collided, flames burst outward.
"Hot! Hot! It's burning me to death!" Wang Zhong yelled, frantically shaking his hand.
"Oh, come on," Su Ke said. "Stop pretending. I barely used any force. Your skin isn't even broken."
"Even if there's no wound, it's still hot!" Wang Zhong complained, blowing on his hand.
After circulating his Spirit Energy, the pain finally subsided.
"Since you're fine," Su Ke said seriously, "then I'll get serious."
He placed his hands at his waist, forming a Kamehameha-like stance as raging flames gathered between his palms.
"Are you ready?"