BOOM!
The deafening clash of fist and palm rang out, energy and armor colliding with earth-shaking force!
A brilliant surge of violet light flared across the armor encasing Rodus, instantly neutralizing the explosive force emanating from Lothar's palm.
"Lord Lothar, it's isotopic armor," the ever-resourceful Woz projected a detailed breakdown of the armor onto Lothar's HUD.
It was a composite blend of dense Infinity Stone isotopes and an array of unknown rare materials, woven together into a suit that dramatically enhanced Rodus's combat capabilities.
"Yeah, I can see that,"
Lothar shook his hand dismissively, casting a scornful glance toward Rodus, who had just regained his footing.
"But trash is still trash. Even with an Infinity Stone."
The power of the Stones, immense though it was, remained just that—power. It all came down to who wielded it. Strength was never absolute; it was always relative.
A perfect example: The Other.
Did he ever dare challenge Thanos with the Mind Stone, despite it being one of the six great Infinity Stones?
"Ah… a typical hot-blooded youth,"
Rodus muttered, brushing off the attack. The arrogance in Lothar's tone and the disdain in his eyes brought back memories, of himself, in younger, more reckless years, before the harsh lessons of reality had humbled him.
"Well then… let's begin."
Before the words even finished echoing, Rodus appeared directly in front of Lothar.
The shriek of air tearing apart screamed past Lothar's ear. His opponent's energy-saturated armor blazed with a blinding radiance!
"What the—?!"
"Is that—?!"
"The Power Stone?!"
Jennifer, ever alert, instantly recognized the searing energy radiating from Rodus. It was the same force her master Gubo had once entrusted to her.
THUD!
Rodus's Power Stone-infused fist drove forward, but Lothar calmly raised his arm and blocked it like swatting a leaf.
"What's that supposed to be? 'The beginning'?"
Prepared for the Power Stone's tricks long ago, Lothar's mocking gaze twinkled as he drove a crushing kick straight into Rodus's chest!
The energy, deliberately compressed at Lothar's sole, erupted with pinpoint devastation, overwhelming the armor's defenses and hurling Rodus backward. The sheer force shattered the floor beneath him.
"That's all?"
Lothar advanced casually toward the kneeling Rodus, his expression filled with cold disappointment.
"Too weak."
Looming over his foe, Lothar's dismissiveness ignited something deep in Rodus. Thunder cracked across the heavens as a bestial roar echoed from above. Rodus leapt skyward, power spilling from his armor, finally forcing Lothar to take a step back.
"RODUS!!"
"Today marks your end!"
With Lothar pushed back, Jennifer followed through, her arms gleaming with violet light as she rocketed into the air and launched a brutal punch toward Rodus, who had barely regained balance.
Lothar by her side. Her master anchoring the rear lines. Three Infinity Stones in their possession. To Jennifer, it was a guaranteed win.
"You're not the only one."
"Our forces have already mobilized!"
"Tonight, we will overthrow the tyranny of Gafa!"
"By tomorrow, the Tuskari will no longer be your slaves!"
The Power Stone's light flared brighter than ever. Jennifer's cropped hair whipped wildly in the wind as the force pouring from her drew stunned stares from all around.
"AHHHHHH!"
Strike while the iron is hot!
With a final roar, Jennifer hurled her full might into one last devastating punch.
The blow landed clean.
Rodus, unable or unwilling to defend, was blasted into a fortified wall, disappearing in an explosion of stone and energy!
"Huff… huff…"
Jennifer's chest heaved like a furnace bellows, each gasp loud in the stunned silence.
"I see now… You've taken the fusion path."
She froze mid-step, staring in disbelief as Rodus casually peeled himself from the shattered wall, stretching like he'd just finished a nap.
"It's a clever shortcut. But your synchronization with the Power Stone? Still too shallow."
Dusting off his shoulder with elegance and calm, Rodus's demeanor caused Jennifer's expression to darken in fury.
"That's impossible…"
A ball of crackling violet lightning surged between her palms. Contained within it was terrifying power, launched immediately at Rodus.
"You don't know what impossible means."
Smiling, Rodus lifted his hand, and crushed the energy sphere with ease, scattering sparks and debris across the chamber.
"Gubo… you've always been too cautious."
"So cautious you wouldn't even let her truly bond with the Power Stone."
His gaze shifted toward the sighing elder.
"I made that mistake once with you already,"
Gubo replied, tapping his staff against the ground, unmoved by the accusation.
"What has been will be again. What has been done will be done again."
"Your own words, Rodus. Or have you started denying even yourself?"
"Afraid she'll become the next me? So you'd rather stifle her growth?"
Rodus stretched, eyes now fixed on Lothar.
"Son of Thanos, no, I should call you by name… Lothar."
"Where's your Infinity Stone?"
It was precisely Lothar's Stone that had drawn Rodus into this confrontation. And yet, during the battle, he hadn't sensed it at all.
"You're too weak,"
Lothar said, chin raised, arrogance practically radiating from his pores. Rodus was briefly at a loss for words.
"Then what about me?"
A calm voice rang out from behind Lothar. The click of polished boots echoed sharply against the floor.
Long, shoulder-length hair parted at the center. A flowing white-gray robe, elegant and archaic. Were it not for his identical face, Lothar would never have recognized him—
"Ego?"
Lothar's brows furrowed as a sudden sense of dread overtook him.
"Was the tavern's wine to your liking?"
The detached tone stunned Jennifer into silence before she could speak.
Then, just a simple punch.
Lothar felt like a planet had slammed into his chest.
BOOOOOM!!
"It was decent,"
Ego muttered, wiping his mouth. Lothar's body appeared behind him in a blur of light, only to be instantly entangled by dozens of silver tendrils that materialized from thin air, binding his arms and freezing him in place.
"I've said it more than once… I am a god."
"So why is it that fools continue to doubt me, worse, try to provoke me?"
Expressionless, Ego turned to face the restrained Lothar, who was still desperately trying to charge up enough power to break free.
"Perhaps your strength was impressive in your native universe… but unfortunately,"
"Here, it's not enough. Not enough to break this realm's laws."
"Given time, maybe you could shatter this universe's constraints. But…"
"You no longer have time."
He leaned in slightly, face contorting into something monstrous.
"So die."
The moment he spoke, the silver tendrils speared through Lothar's chest.
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