"This level of corrosion has no chance of breaking through my muscle defense!"
Tanktop Master grunted as he endured the burning pain. He turned again and threw a heavy punch toward Gums. The force behind the strike was fierce enough to split mountains and shatter stone.
However, Gums did not dodge.
Instead, it opened its massive mouth once more, seemingly intending to swallow Tanktop Master's entire fist and arm.
Tanktop Master's reaction was exceptionally quick. He immediately changed his clenched fist into an open palm. Just as his hand was about to disappear into Gums's mouth, he slammed his palm against its lower jaw and used the resulting force to propel himself backward.
"Tsk. Troublesome ability."
Tanktop Master glanced at the slightly corroded marks on his palm, his brows drawing together.
Gums's combination of devouring and corrosive abilities was extremely troublesome. Engaging it at close range was simply too dangerous.
Gums emitted a triumphant gurgling sound and began squirming toward him again.
Tanktop Master took a deep breath and changed his tactics.
He began moving rapidly around Gums, taking advantage of his superior speed to launch swift, powerful punches and kicks from its sides and rear. He targeted Gums's relatively weaker flanks and joints, striking whenever an opening appeared.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Heavy impacts echoed throughout the arena.
Gums possessed an extraordinarily thick layer of fat and astonishing defensive power. Although Tanktop Master's attacks caused its massive body to tremble, he struggled to inflict any decisive damage.
At the same time, Gums repeatedly spat out streams of acidic fluid or abruptly opened its enormous mouth to devour him, forcing Tanktop Master to remain constantly on the defensive.
The battle gradually settled into a stalemate.
Tanktop Master possessed the advantage in raw strength, but Gums's abilities made it difficult for him to unleash that strength effectively. Gums, meanwhile, had powerful defenses and dangerous abilities, but its inferior speed prevented it from effectively catching its opponent.
"Tanktop Master is having a tough time," Zombieman quietly observed.
"That monster's digestive fluid and devouring ability are a serious counter to pure physical fighters," Child Emperor analyzed.
Just as everyone began to think the battle would end in a draw or devolve into a battle of attrition, a sharp glint flashed through Tanktop Master's eyes.
He had noticed something.
After repeatedly spitting out its acidic fluid, Gums appeared to require a brief recovery period before it could use its mouth again. More importantly, its turning speed was its greatest weakness.
After successfully dodging another attack, Tanktop Master did not immediately retreat.
Instead, he lowered his body and dashed forward, instantly closing the distance and reaching Gums's blind spot directly behind it.
"Tanktop Heavy Punch!"
Tanktop Master concentrated all his strength into his right shoulder.
His entire body became like an unstoppable locomotive, with his right fist serving as the spearhead as he drove it fiercely toward Gums's relatively vulnerable spinal area.
The strike concentrated his entire body weight and strength into a single attack.
Fast.
Accurate.
Ruthless.
Gums sensed the danger and attempted to turn around, but it was already too late. It could only barely twist its massive body.
"Boom!"
A muffled impact, reminiscent of a meteor crashing down, reverberated throughout the arena.
Tanktop Master's iron-hard shoulder slammed solidly into the side of Gums's spine.
"Aow!"
Gums released a pained roar.
Its enormous body was driven forward by the tremendous force. It staggered several steps before crashing heavily onto the ground, causing the entire fighting platform to shake.
Its spine had clearly suffered severe damage, and it was unable to rise immediately.
Tanktop Master seized the opportunity and rushed forward. He wrapped one powerful arm around Gums's neck while pressing the back of its head firmly against the ground with his other hand, completely pinning it down.
"Give up!"
Tanktop Master roared.
Gums struggled several times, but with its spine injured, it could no longer exert its full strength. Combined with Tanktop Master's restraint, it had no way to break free.
All it could do was emit an unwilling gurgling sound, signaling its surrender.
The simulated battlefield dissipated, and Gums's injuries were restored. However, the way it looked at Tanktop Master now contained a trace of apprehension.
"Third round, Tanktop Master wins."
Sol's voice rang out at the appropriate moment.
Tanktop Master released Gums and stood upright.
His breathing was somewhat uneven, and the burns across his back still throbbed with pain, but his posture remained straight and imposing.
He gave the spectators a slight nod before calmly walking off the fighting platform.
"Beautiful counterattack!" Metal Bat praised. "I knew those muscles weren't just for show!"
Bang also gave a slight nod.
"He knows how to observe his opponent and seize fleeting opportunities. Not bad."
On the Monster Association's side, the atmosphere had become noticeably somber.
Losing two consecutive rounds had dealt a serious blow to their pride.
"Hehe, it seems the Hero Association's old-timers still have some tricks up their sleeves."
Black Sperm let out a noisy cackle as his body gathered together and squirmed onto the fighting platform.
"Who's next? Come on, let this lord have some fun!"
From the Hero Association's side, Atomic Samurai slowly stepped out from the crowd.
A toothpick rested between his teeth, while one hand remained on the hilt of his sword.
"Let me take on this splitting monster."
His eyes were sharp, resembling a drawn blade.
"Fourth round, Hero Association, Atomic Samurai, versus Monster Association, Black Sperm!"
Child Emperor's voice rang throughout the arena.
Atomic Samurai planted his feet firmly and leaned forward slightly, adopting the standard stance for an Iaijutsu draw and cut.
"I hear you can split yourself indefinitely. I wonder if you can keep up with the speed of my slashes."
"Hehehe. We'll find out if you try!"
Before Black Sperm could finish speaking, thousands of his individual bodies surged toward Atomic Samurai from every direction like a black tide.
Each tiny Black Sperm bared its teeth and claws, carrying enough strength to tear through steel.
Atomic Samurai's eyes narrowed.
"Atomic Slash: Scattered Flowers!"
"Clang!"
The piercing sound of a sword being drawn echoed throughout the training ground.
A brilliant ring of sword light suddenly erupted from Atomic Samurai and spread outward in every direction.
Wherever the sword light passed, the air itself seemed to be torn apart.
The Black Sperm individuals at the forefront were like meat thrown into a grinder. In less than a hundredth of a second, the countless bodies were sliced into fragments finer than dust by the extraordinarily sharp sword strikes.