While Jordan stood lost in thought, Lanny pulled out her phone and messaged a colleague in the information department.
Who is this Bang guy?
The response made her eyes widen.
Legendary martial artist. Dojo master. Multiple tournament championships. Considered one of the world's top fighters.
She looked at the kind old man stretching casually near the testing machine.
This unassuming grandpa is a powerhouse?
By the time Bang's results came in—perfect score, machine limit exceeded—Lanny had become a complete fangirl.
"Amazing! Master Bang, your technique is absolutely incredible!"
Bang nodded with satisfaction, quite pleased with the young woman's reaction.
Still got it!
Then his expression soured as he glanced at Jordan.
The kid hadn't reacted at all. Just stood there staring at his hand like Bang's demonstration had been wallpaper.
What are you daydreaming about, brat?! I just showed you decades of martial mastery!
Jordan paid zero attention to the old man's glare. His focus was entirely on the purple card floating in his palm.
[Fantasy Card: Flowing Water Breathing Technique]
Type: Ability • Rarity: SR
The foundational breathing method of Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist.
Effect: Water Breathing
Special breathing technique that regulates and amplifies physical strength. Channels internal energy to dramatically enhance attack power and speed. Can deflect or weaken incoming attacks through redirection.
A second target for exploitation has appeared.
Jordan blinked at the card.
Wait. Didn't Fantasy Cards turn into an evolution cocoon? How did it generate this?
He summoned his deck—physical cards materializing in his hand—and immediately understood.
His Stand had finished evolving.
And it had awakened a new ability.
Stand: Fantasy Cards
Destructive Power: D | Speed: D | Precision: C
Range: B | Durability: A | Growth Potential: A
Ability 1 — Card Mastery:
Give anything the conceptual framework of a "card," create fantasy cards, and control sealed power.
Ability 2 — Fate Draw:
Draw one random fantasy card per day. Draws accumulate if unused.
Ability 3 — Element Pickup (NEW):
Passively collect fragments of extraordinary elements within a ten-meter radius. Randomly generates fantasy cards from collected material.
Note: D-rank parameters equivalent to trained athlete capability.
Jordan's mind raced.
The biggest change was obvious: passive card generation. Fantasy Cards could now automatically pick up "extraordinary elements" within ten meters—abilities, techniques, power signatures. No active targeting required. Just proximity and luck.
The same randomness as Fate Draw, but triggered by being near powerful individuals instead of waiting for daily resets.
A parade of heroes and monsters flashed through Jordan's mind—future encounters, potential targets, walking loot drops.
The mental image transformed.
A field of sheep. Long-haired. Waiting to be harvested.
Saitama was no longer alone in the metaphorical pen. Bang stood beside him, equally oblivious. And behind them, countless others.
Jordan's eyes misted with relief.
Beautiful.
Beyond the new ability, his Stand's base stats had improved significantly. Power and Speed had both upgraded from E-rank (approximately zero) to D-rank (trained athlete). Range increased from C to B.
Still not combat-relevant in direct confrontation—Fantasy Cards wasn't a punching ghost like Star Platinum—but the range increase made sense. Ten-meter pickup radius matched the new B-rank parameter.
Though I still can't just manifest the Stand and throw it at people...
Jordan shook his head, dismissing the thought, and looked up.
An old face with an extremely unfriendly expression glared at him.
Bang.
"Mr. Evans," the old man said, voice tight. "Do you have complaints about my performance?"
Jordan deployed the triple denial. "I didn't! I'm not! Don't make things up!"
Bang opened his mouth to argue—
Jordan pressed one hand to his chest, closed his eyes, and began breathing.
Deep inhale. Controlled exhale. Energy circulation following the pattern encoded in the card he'd just absorbed.
Bang's expression froze.
His pupils dilated.
What... what is this feeling?
The essence of Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist radiated from the young man before him. Not perfect—rough around the edges, lacking decades of refinement—but unmistakably there. The fundamental breathing pattern, the internal energy flow, the conceptual framework of his signature technique.
How is this possible?!
The old man's shock gave way to blazing excitement.
Not rough jade. Pure gold. Uncut, unpolished, but genuine gold!
"Master," Jordan said, opening his eyes with a forced casual smile. "I tried imitating your breathing technique from earlier. Any obvious problems?"
Risky play. But Bang wasn't a bad person, and having a martial arts legend as a friend seemed strategically sound.
Plus, that Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist looked delicious.
Of course, I'm not becoming his student, Jordan thought firmly. Absolutely not happening. Otherwise I'd end up in the same generation as Genos, and that's just weird.
Bang's martial arts experience kicked in. Decades of teaching told him one critical lesson: never rush the recruitment process.
He coughed twice, recovering his grandmaster composure. "You imitated it quite well. No major issues. You really must visit my dojo when you have time—we can explore this more deeply."
"Definitely. I'd be honored."
"Now then, Mr. Evans..." Bang gestured at the testing machine. "Your turn."
"Right. Let me not embarrass myself too badly."
Jordan turned to Lanny, who'd been watching their exchange with barely concealed confusion. "Miss Lanny, if I accidentally break the equipment, I don't have to pay for it, right?"
Lanny blinked. "What?"
The staff technician laughed. "Don't worry! We have backup machines. Break away!"
Jordan nodded.
His eyes flashed silver-white.
Lightning erupted across his body—crackling electricity that wrapped around his frame like living armor. Blue spiritual flames ignited simultaneously, Stand energy and Kennen's power merging.
Ultimate Technique: Lightning Armor, advanced form—
"Lightning Mode!"
Jordan stepped back, torso twisting, coiling power through his core. His right hand—wreathed in violent electricity—blurred forward and struck the leather testing pad.
BOOM.
The shockwave hit like a concussion grenade. Lanny's skirt whipped backward. The technician's white coat snapped horizontal. Bang's beard stood on end.
All three stood frozen, expressions blank.
Mostly because the electrical discharge had momentarily stunned their nervous systems.
The testing machine—rated to withstand direct hits from Demon-level threats—exploded into sparking scrap metal. The wreckage embedded itself in the wall twenty meters away, trailing smoke and ozone.
The staff technician's eye twitched.
His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
He said not to worry about breaking it! But I didn't think he'd ACTUALLY—
Tears threatened.
Lanny snapped out of her shock, eyes gleaming with predatory excitement.
A psychic AND a martial arts master in one day. This is the best recruitment haul ever.
Bang's thoughts were written across his face in neon letters:
The kid's a superpowered individual too?! Finding a student just got ten times harder!
"Mr. Evans..." The technician's voice cracked. "Perfect... perfect score..."
Lanny seized the moment, clapping her hands. "Excellent! Let's move to the next station!"
Must secure both of them today. No matter what.
Jordan and Bang didn't disappoint.
Starting with the strength test, they systematically demolished every record in the assessment roster.
Rope skipping: broken.
High jump: shattered.
Weightlifting: exceeded machine capacity.
Side jump: new world record.
1500-meter sprint: data that shouldn't be physically possible.
Every station they visited, staff members scrambled to record numbers that violated known human limitations.
"Ace heroes!" someone shouted from the observation deck. "Z-City is getting ace heroes!"
"Two of them!"
"I'm calling headquarters right now!"
The excitement was palpable.
Lanny walked beside them, professional smile plastered on her face, internally calculating bonus structures and promotion opportunities.
Bang stretched casually between tests, enjoying himself.
Jordan followed along, wondering if his Stand would pick up anything else useful from the old man.
The sheep farm was growing nicely.