At first, Jing Shu thought her B rating wasn't bad. After all, Monkey had so many abilities and still only got a B+. Even with Ah Huang included, his overall was just A-. But once the Capital team walked in, Wu City's team was completely overshadowed.
The Capital's leader, Zhen Nantian, was rated S. That was two full tiers higher than Yang Yang's supposedly impressive A+. The rest of their team were all rated A. To make things worse, Snake Spirit's little Thai striped snake was rated B+, which was already higher than Jing Shu and her rare healing medicine.
Sure, Snake Spirit's poison could wipe out dozens in one bite, while Jing Shu could only save a handful. It was natural that the destructive one scored higher than the supportive one. But still, saying she was only a B stung a little.
Yang Yang, however, looked downright proud.
Tank shifted in his chair, which creaked under his weight. He frowned and jabbed a finger at Jing Shu. "A B-rated woman? She doesn't even have fast-twitch muscle fibers, her muscle mass isn't even 30 percent. And you're telling me she's strong? Are you questioning my expertise? Then let's test it."
All eyes turned toward Jing Shu. Everyone began sizing up the strange woman who brought a chicken on a mission to the U.S. and dressed like… well, like that. Even Wu City's Monkey and Hao Yunlai stared at her curiously. "Strong? Can't see it," Monkey muttered.
Honestly, Jing Shu herself doubted it a little. Tank was massive, built like a mountain, his muscles bulging with raw strength. She hadn't actually tested her strength in ages. Her power hadn't grown explosively, it had risen gradually, so her daily life hadn't changed much. She didn't accidentally crush cups or snap pens. Everything felt normal, except when she lifted heavy things, it was effortless, like picking up a mouse. But bursts of strength… that still needed preparation.
She thought for a moment, then said, "It's really not a big deal. Whether I'm strong or not doesn't matter. Since my role's a support doctor and yours is a tank, why don't you take the mech? It'll boost your strength and safety, and I'll just focus on treating the wounded. Fair enough?"
Looking at Tank's two-meter frame, his thighs bigger than her waist, and the pair of iron spheres around his neck that had to weigh seventy or eighty kilos together, she was convinced his strength was terrifying.
She had three reasons for letting him take the mech. First, if she wore it and a high-tech armor-piercing round hit, she'd be finished. Second, if she lost an arm-wrestling match, she'd humiliate herself and Yang Yang, leaving the mech handoff awkward as hell. Third, if she won, it'd be even worse. Beating one of the strongest guys in China as a scrawny-looking woman would draw dangerous attention. Someone might start poking into where her strength came from, and that was a risk she couldn't afford.
Better to keep a low profile.
But Tank exploded. He shot to his feet so fast the plane rocked. His head nearly hit the ceiling as he roared, "Are you insulting me? I don't need charity! Or is it that you don't even dare show your strength? Did your Wu City leader make up some nonsense so I'd feel grateful wearing a mech none of you could handle?"
Zhen Nantian sat quietly on the bed, watching with detached eyes. He clearly wanted to see for himself whether this woman really had the strength Yang Yang claimed.
Yang Yang shrugged. His look said, up to you now.
Jing Shu stared at this blockhead, speechless. "Fine. What do you want to compete in?"
"On a plane, all we can do is arm wrestle. I won't bully you. If you can last ten seconds without losing, I'll admit you qualify to wear the mech."
Jing Shu's eyes lit up. Perfect. She could hold back, "last" ten seconds, and not look too strong or too weak.
"Alright, let's do it."
"Three, two, one, start!" Snake Spirit called out. Jing Shu and Tank locked hands at the small table, everyone crowding around.
But the match didn't even last a full second. With a sharp bang, it was over. The crowd's faces said it all—knew it. The plane fell silent.
Jing Shu: "…"
Tank smirked. "Didn't even last a second."
Jing Shu: "Again. I didn't even get to use my strength." She'd held back too much. This time she'd use about forty percent. That'd crush him without making it look like she was steamrolling.
Tank sneered. "I only used half my strength."
"You can go all out."
His teeth flashed white. "You said it."
"Three, two, one, start!"
Thud!
Another instant loss. Tank had exploded with everything he had, and Jing Shu still went down. Faster than before.
Jing Shu: "…" Even sixty percent hadn't been enough? His strength really was monstrous. He was the first person in the apocalypse to actually match her in raw power. His explosive force was insane. She'd have to unleash more or risk getting flattened every time.
Tank curled his lip. "I felt your power, but it's only average. You can barely handle the mech."
Jing Shu coughed awkwardly. "Let's try one more time. I can definitely last ten seconds next round."
Snake Spirit chuckled. "Twice is enough. That proves the point."
Monk rubbed his bald head. "Yeah, better stop before the lady gets hurt."
Tank nodded. "Fact is, you're stronger than a normal person, but still nowhere near me."
That was when Zhen Nantian pointed at the table. "Do it again. Notice how the table's still intact? She's been holding back. Mirror, use your full strength. Don't worry. No one here will reveal what they see."
Jing Shu sighed. "Fine. But Tank, be careful. If I go all out, it won't be easy." Since she'd been called out, there was no point hiding anymore. It was time to see just how far her strength had grown.