Upon entering the locker room, Johnson and other candidates received wristbands similar to those at a bathhouse, each corresponding to a storage locker.
The association's requirements were strict: candidates couldn't use any equipment during the test. Male candidates were limited to wearing association-provided shorts.
Female candidates were permitted one additional item — a sports bra.
Female heroes had always been a minority. Today was no exception; most recruits were beefcakes. The locker room was packed with bodybuilder-level musclemen huddled together, flexing their massive pecs and trading weight training stories.
Despite the increasingly tense atmosphere and testosterone flooding the locker room, Johnson simply removed his shirt, paying no attention to the others.
"Oh, this kid..."
A soft exclamation echoed from a corner of the locker room.
Tall stature, flowing muscle lines, an impressive V-taper — this iron-like physique was the result of countless attribute card bonuses, having nothing to do with Johnson's own efforts.
A silver-haired elderly man's eyes widened, burning with intensity, "Perfect! Such perfect body proportions, obvious martial arts potential — this kid is truly a rare gem!"
Hiss—
A sharp Spider Sense tingled, and Johnson instantly detected the gaze behind him.
Turning slightly, he saw an elderly man, well past seventy, smiling kindly at him. The man casually removed his own shirt, revealing muscles like granite beneath.
Johnson: "!!"
"Holy crap, this old man!"
Someone exclaimed in amazement — young guys were one thing, but how could this ordinary-looking elderly man from the park possess such an incredible physique?
His gentle, squinting smile created a striking contrast with muscles powerful enough to crush someone with one hand.
Had this world gone mad?
Future 'Silver Fang', Bang.
Recognizing the old man's identity, Johnson's heart settled. That explained everything.
Future 3rd Rank S-Class Hero, an undefeated martial arts master in his youth, and one of humanity's top powerhouses in the Hero Association.
Johnson nodded slightly in response to Bang's goodwill.
After securing his belongings in the locker, he joined the other candidates heading to the testing area.
Bang walked on the other side of the group, occasionally turning to observe Johnson's form and posture, his eyes gleaming with keen interest.
That intense gaze gave Johnson a headache. Thinking about this martial arts master's tendency to take students under his wing made his head hurt even more.
Martial arts training required dedication — why suffer when he could use cheat codes?
No no, thank you very much...
The vast venue was divided into different testing zones. After completing the initial measurements of height, weight, vision, lung capacity, and other standard items, Johnson saw the delicate Lanie waiting for him at the entrance of the strength testing room.
"Officer Johnson, please follow me."
Johnson nodded and followed, but after a few steps, the old man's voice came from behind.
"Um, young lady, may I join you?"
"Ah..." Lanie froze, turning to find an incredibly muscular elderly man standing behind them with an inquiring smile, "This elderly gentleman..."
Just as she was about to explain, Johnson stepped in: "This is Master Bang, the martial artist."
"Martial artist?"
"Oh? Young man, you know of me?"
Both Lanie and Bang looked puzzled.
Johnson nodded respectfully. "Yes, I've had the honor of witnessing Master's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."
He demonstrated a few moves.
Bang observed with a slight sweat, noting that while the movements looked passable, the young man clearly lacked any martial arts foundation, "Please, drop the 'Master'. I'm just an ordinary old man running a dojo."
Johnson leaned in and whispered, "Not at all. I know about your achievements from your younger days."
"Hmm?" Bang straightened, his eyes flickering with killing intent, "Young man, you seem to know too much."
Thinking of his glory days, his face reddened.
"Ahem... let's not speak of the past. Young man, what's your name?"
"I'm Johnson, a police officer."
"Ah, Johnson-kun, you should visit my dojo sometime. It's not far from Z-City, and the environment is quite nice."
"Sure, I'll visit when I have time."
✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱
Trailing behind, Lanie watched helplessly as the two men chatted their way into the testing room without her. After a moment's hesitation, she hurried after them, her high heels clicking against the floor.
"Please follow me, gentlemen. We have a private testing room."
Bang's eyes lit up, "No need to queue? That's wonderful!"
Johnson side-eyed him — wasn't the old man being a bit too enthusiastic about such a simple convenience?
Lanie led them to a massive machine that resembled a locomotive, explaining to the puzzled staff why they now had two testers instead of one.
Johnson and Bang exchanged glances.
"Johnson-kun, who should go first?"
"After you, Master. I'd like to see your demonstration."
Bang nodded, dropping the formalities and raising his arm to warm up, "Very well, I'll go first."
Before meeting this young man, Bang had only been curious about the Hero Association. He'd joined the hero recruitment partly to use his strength to help ordinary people, and partly to see if the organization lived up to its claims.
As for hero rankings, they hadn't even been on the old man's radar — he'd planned to simply wing it.
But now things were different. He decided to show this young man what martial arts truly meant.
Standing shirtless before the testing machine, Bang bent his knees and settled into his stance. His silver hair stirred without wind as he raised one hand and placed the other behind his back, tracing two perfect pale blue arcs through the air like tai chi before suddenly launching a punch.
✱ Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist! ✱
As the clear shout rang out, Spider Sense activated.
In his heightened perception, time seemed to slow as Johnson observed every detail of Bang's punch. What appeared to be a casual strike contained the world's most refined martial techniques — using minimal force to unleash devastating power.
The movement was as graceful as an antelope's horns gliding through branches.
Pak!
His fist struck the leather pad with an explosive burst of compressed air. Before the staff could even react, the display screen above the testing machine chimed "Ding Ding Ding" as three massive "9"s appeared.
"Whoa! Nine hundred and ninety-nine kilograms of punch force! No, wait — it's exceeded the machine's measurement limit! Mr... Bang, strength test: Perfect score!"