NOVEL WEB 0035 – Child’s Play
The enormous war hammer was lifted.
A weapon that only appears in fictional tales was painstakingly lifted off the ground by a strong man using both hands. He couldn’t even raise it above his head, his veins bulging.
It was clear that this thing weighed at least a hundred kilograms.
The crowd of elderly onlookers gasped in amazement. Then, unlike the usual chest-crushing stone-smashing acts, the hammer fell from a low height. The wielder didn’t dare to slam it down, nor could he lift it high enough to do so.
He could only lower the hammer, letting it drop.
The stone slab on the chest of the man lying on the bed immediately shattered on impact.
The hammer-wielding man quickly placed the hammer back on the ground, and the man on the bed swiftly got up.
The whole process was smooth and seamless.
The chest-crushing stone act concluded perfectly.
Though it seemed like a rushed and clumsy version, the exaggerated visual effect of the enormous war hammer resembling Thor's hammer won over the audience, who cheered enthusiastically.
Even the usually critical Benny had nothing negative to say. This time, he remained silent, quietly applauding.
Then, the two performers distributed the shattered stone pieces to the audience for inspection, inviting a few lucky spectators to come on stage and try lifting the war hammer to test its weight.
“I’ve looked into this troupe before. They do have some genuine skills,” Benny said to Zoe, who was peeling pistachios while watching the troupe prepare for a fire-breathing act.
Though the principle behind the chest-crushing stone act is based on pressure and inertia—using the large surface area of the stone to reduce the pressure from the hammer, and the stone’s inertia to minimize downward force—such a performance still requires genuine skill.
It depends on how one defines “genuine skills.”
If mastery and courage count, this troupe is quite impressive. Additionally, controlling the force with which the hammer is wielded requires a certain level of skill.
Carelessness could still lead to injury.
Seeing that Zoe didn’t respond, Benny took a sip of tea and continued, “By genuine skills, I mean fighting skills. This troupe’s recurring act features two so-called chinese martial arts experts fighting each other.”
Benny looked at Zoe, who indeed showed a hint of interest.
“Genuine skills?” Zoe asked, curious.
In a broad sense, martial arts skills including taekwondo and similar arts reflect one's application and mastery of techniques, embodying a philosophical approach that aims to stop aggression, blending traditional education with an understanding of nature, society, and human relationships.
It’s a cultural and ideological practice.
Most people, however, have a narrower understanding, seeing it as a set of special techniques for combat and self-defense.
Zoe had always believed that such skills were exaggerated or not as physics-defying as commonly portrayed like those in mainstream movies. She saw them as unique chinese combat techniques, certainly not as exaggerated as flying on water or performing acts that disregards gravity.
On the side note, what they displayed was akin more to non-asian counterparts particularly in Brazil or Russia, not in Jet Mi or Jacqueline Chan's moves. Thus, after her physical transformation, she hadn’t sought out these so-called martial arts skills.
She doubted their exaggeration. However, in the future...
Who knows?
“There are genuine skills, but their effectiveness is limited. Those so-called martial arts experts might easily take down an unarmed average person, but if that person had a sharp weapon, the expert would likely die on the spot regardless whether they are genuine or fake.”
“It’s not the kind of skill you’re imagining,” Benny explained with a smile.
With his years of experience, Benny knew that genuine skills exist but even the most skilled martial artist fears a knife.
After years of training in iron palm or iron head techniques, a cut still bleeds like anyone else.
At most...
The cries of pain might be quieter, and the ability to endure pain slightly stronger.
Benny, with his years of experience abroad, concluded that the genuine skill lies in the Mozambique Drill.
Two guns for the body, one for the head.
Even King Yama of Buddhism would be troubled.
"But I’ve never seen the skills of this juggling troupe before. Later, could you give it a review?" Benny took a sip of tea and looked at Zoe. Hearing this, Zoe gave a noncommittal response. However, there was a hint of anticipation in her eyes as she looked at the troupe members.
Then, the juggling troupe showcased contortion, cycling stunts, ventriloquism, bowl balancing, tightrope walking, magic tricks, and lion dancing.
The people around were very pleased.
But Zoe felt a barrier forming between her and ordinary people. This barrier had appeared when her senses first became keen.
When what she saw, heard, and smelled... Was entirely different from ordinary people. The chasm between her and regular folks became evident.
When she first gained her sense of smell, she had reminded herself to retain her humanity. But now, she couldn’t help but feel that barrier again. When people saw the troupe's performance, they were awed by the years of hard work behind it.
But in Zoe’s eyes, It felt like watching a kindergarten recital. Everything was not exactly childish, But it could definitely be considered... child’s play?
The female contortionist’s flexibility was indeed impressive. The male performer walking on coals and skipping rope on nails was indeed remarkable...
But Zoe’s first reaction was, "I could do that too."
Zoe did respect the performers for their years of hard work. One could easily imagine the hardships they endured during practice. However, It wasn’t a conscious thought in her mind, but rather a sense of disdain emanating from her body.
Silently, Zoe suppressed her body’s instinctive disdain. And continued watching. The troupe’s final performance was the martial arts duel Benny had mentioned.
One of the participants was the burly man who had held the thunder drum gold hammer at the start. The other, after stripping off his upper garment, revealed equally robust muscles.
Seeing this, Zoe had to admit, In terms of muscle mass, she seemed inferior to these two guys.
Of course, she has a female body but she believed her muscles looked more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing.
As she mentally assessed their physiques, The two men started fighting. It was evident they were well-practiced in combat. Their moves and routines were clearly meticulously designed. Watching this scene, Zoe's ability to perceive the world in detail became focused.
Through their subtle movements, the direction of their gaze, the rhythm and force of their breathing, the extent of their blood vessel contractions...
Every action of the two men was exceedingly clear in Zoe’s eyes. She could see their next moves that followed the fundamentals of a particular famous russian combat style and pinpoint their most vulnerable spots.
Zoe squinted, And couldn’t help but curl her lip. It seemed she had indeed expected too much.
The fight before her wasn’t just flashy but not impressive either. Given her extreme sensory perception and absolute precision and control, the fight before her truly seemed like child’s play.
