Today will be a great template harvest.
The selection begins.
In the underground training ground with walls of bronze and iron, Russell stood still. The first person was an acquaintance, and he raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Don't be so surprised, it's only natural that I'm the first.
Being teammates with a cold Robot who doesn't understand humor or jokes finally has some benefits.
"Rex-Splode, who walked onto the field, glanced at the Superheroes outside the bulletproof glass on the second floor. A few teammates and the Robot stood among them.
Standing still, he smiled and raised his hand to greet, his posture loose and casual, still looking like a slacker.
It was obvious he heard the news about the Global Guardians selecting people. He got the advantage first by being teammates with the Robot and successfully signed up first.
Russell waved his hand indifferently.
It made no difference to him who the first person was.
"I know you're powerful, so I won't hold back!" Rex took a deep breath, pulled out the metal rod from his waist, which instantly finished charging, and swung it towards Russell, flashing with dangerous light.
It was like a high-pound bomb, blackening the steel plate ground.
Russell left his original position as if teleporting, arriving dozens of meters away, with his hands behind his back, floating in mid-air.
"Bang bang bang——!"
Rex's arms turned into afterimages, and alloy rods wrapped in fierce energy whistled out one after another.
Each metal rod drew a dazzling crimson trajectory in the air, then exploded with a boom. Impact waves layered like tides, making the steel plate ground of the entire training ground hum.
However——
Russell's figure leisurely passed through the gaps between the explosions.
His white cape didn't even stir a single wrinkle, as if those explosions capable of tearing steel apart were merely warm breezes passing by in summer.
Every time just before an alloy rod was about to hit, Russell's figure would slightly shift like an illusion, perfectly dodging all attacks.
"What a joke..." On the observation deck above, the Superhero Fragment, who could casually catch sniper bullets, couldn't help but see his pupils contract violently. "I can't even see his movement trajectory."
"So fast. I once met Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and the speed he was best at was just like this!" The knowledgeable Demigod gradually lowered his crossed arms.
[Conquest Points +7]
[Conquest Points +13]
[Conquest Points +34]...
"Damn it, the gap isn't... isn't that big, right! With so many people watching, this is going to be embarrassing..."
In the center of the training ground, cold sweat seeped from Rex's forehead. His offensive became more and more violent, the alloy rods almost forming a continuous screen of crimson light, hoping to at least hit Russell to save face.
But Russell still moved through it calmly.
"Whew——" Someone unconsciously held their breath, only to suddenly wake up when they felt suffocated, and quickly patted their stiff cheeks, trying to relieve the tense feeling in their back.
The white cape swayed gently in the smoke.
Russell finally stopped, standing calmly in the center of the field, looking at the opponent.
Rex's hand found his belt empty, his face changed. His alloy metal rods were used up.
"Shall we continue?"
Russell's voice was so calm it had no ripple, and the white cape remained spotless in the training ground's smoke.
He gave Rex ample time to display his abilities, letting the opponent bomb the entire field beyond recognition.
"Of course!" Rex gritted his teeth, his fists clenched, his alloy gauntlets turning red from overload. "You mean I should surrender without even touching You?!"
He suddenly stepped forward, his strength so great that the steel plate beneath his feet slightly dented, preparing to charge again——
But Russell felt this test no longer needed to continue.
"Swish!"
The white figure disappeared like a phantom.
Rex's pupils suddenly contracted. Before he could react, a sharp pain came from the back of his neck.
Russell controlled his strength perfectly. He didn't knock him out, but made him dizzy and fall prone, losing the ability to move.
Bang!
Rex fell heavily to the ground, his face pressed against the steel plate that was hot from the explosion. In his blurry consciousness, he only saw those black combat boots calmly walk past his eyes.
Russell looked up, his gaze penetrating the bulletproof glass on the second floor, looking at the people on the observation deck.
[Rex-Splode Template Collected]
"Next."
These simple three words made the entire observation deck fall silent.
"Hiss," someone took a sharp breath, unconsciously shrinking back. "Who's next? It shouldn't be me."
Atom Eve watched her cheating ex-boyfriend being knocked down in public, snorted coldly, raised her eyebrows, her expression clearly showing some satisfaction.
She only hoped Russell would beat Rex as badly as possible.
"Cousin's flying speed?" Mark noticed something was wrong and widened his eyes.
Before, Cousin's movement speed wasn't this fast when he was in mid-air.
"Could it be... Cousin's abilities have improved again."
The Base personnel helped the knocked-out Rex off the field. Dupli-Kate walked onto the field hesitantly, hugging her arms.
"Infinitoid, You wouldn't treat me like You treated Rex, would You?"
"Of course not."
A subtle glimmer flashed in Russell's eyes, his tone still calm.
Dupli-Kate——this was one of the ability templates he focused on during this selection, capable of creating dozens of duplicates at will.
If he could solidify the duplicate ability, and he could apply it to any template at will...
"I just don't know if such a good thing exists." Thinking of that wonderful scene, Russell couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Even if not, he was determined to solidify this Duplicate Person ability template.
"Even if I do nothing, there are dozens of duplicates to help me learn.
Anything I learn through training and study, I can quickly achieve."
"I... I'm coming!"
Seeing Russell promise not to make her look bad, Kate was visibly relieved.
After she was ready for battle, she let out a low cry, and several afterimages flashed around her, instantly splitting into seven duplicates. Each duplicate assumed a different fighting stance and attacked Russell from all directions.
Various martial arts techniques, such as boxing straight punches, wrestling throws, and Capoeira spinning kicks, were readily used by her, forming an airtight offensive.
Russell stood his ground, his figure as stable as a rock. His moves showed no trace of any style, each punch and kick was extremely simple, yet terrifyingly precise.
Bang!
One duplicate was knocked down by an elbow strike.
Slap!
A side kick accurately hit another duplicate's throat, and a spinning punch sent another one flying.
After just over twenty rounds, there was no standing duplicate on the field. The original Duplicate Person Kate retreated a few steps, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.
"I surrender," she said, panting, but with gratitude in her eyes, thanking Russell for his mercy, and turned to leave.
[Dupli-Kate Template Collected]
Seeing the figure that then stood on the opposite side of the training ground, Russell slightly flexed his wrist, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"Trouble, Infinitoid. I happen to need a battle, You don't need to hold back."
As expected, the third person to enter the field was the last member of the Teen Team.
Atom Eve took a deep breath. Pink energy ignited from her fingertips like flames, flowing and condensing around her, finally transforming into a set of shimmering energy armor, and she looked at Russell seriously.