Capítulo 170: Darkseid Appears
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The relentless duel raged on. Ivan, a master of tactics, weaved around Thanos, exploiting every opening. His precise and powerful strikes rained down on the Mad Titan's chest, waist, neck, and head. Despite boasting armor that he said would withstand starship weaponry, Thanos found himself pitted with dents under this relentless assault.
Yet, he fought back, enduring the searing pain. But Ivan's agility frustrated his every attempt. Thanos roared in frustration, his massive fist growing more dangerous as he unleashed a wave of destructive energy. The force caught Ivan off guard, disrupting his movements. By the time he recovered, Thanos's fist, now the size of a cauldron, slammed into his chest.
Ivan plummeted like a meteor, smashing into the ground. A bitter smile twisted his lips. The disparity in size was undeniable. While Ivan had landed numerous blows, Thanos's single strike caused more significant damage. It was a brutal reality – skill could only go so far against overwhelming power.
Despite the agony coursing through him, Ivan refused to yield. He propelled himself from the crater, fist aimed squarely at Thanos's face. The Mad Titan, still reeling from Ivan's earlier assault, attempted to block with his arm. But Ivan, with a burst of unexpected speed, ducked under it and headbutted Thanos with a sickening crack.
The impact sent tremors through the ground, forcing Thanos back several steps. He shook his head, momentarily dazed, only to see Ivan charging again. Thanos lashed out, his massive hand aimed to crush the more diminutive warrior. But Ivan, ever the opportunist, sidestepped the blow.
The intensity escalated. Both warriors bore the brunt of the battle, their bodies scarred and battered. Yet, neither showed a hint of surrender. Time, however, began to favor Ivan. His tactics, focused on leveraging Thanos's strength against him, conserved more energy. While Thanos boasted immense resilience, the sustained high-intensity combat was taking its toll.
The tide was turning. Ivan savoring the prospect of slowly wearing Thanos down, Ivan was jolted by a sudden, heart-pounding shift. As he launched another punch at Thanos's shoulder, a searing pain erupted in his back, instantly soaking his clothes. A primal sense of danger surged through him.
Without hesitation, Ivan flipped, twisting his body to evade the unseen threat. Glancing back, he spotted two crimson beams streaking towards him. Recognition dawned on his face, and his expression contorted in fear. At his current speed, dodging these beams was impossible. He abandoned any attempt at evasion and channeled chaotic rule energy into his outstretched hands, a desperate attempt to block the attack.
His hunch was correct. The beams circled him relentlessly before slamming into the chaotic energy in his palms. A loud explosion ripped through the air, sending Ivan hurtling backward. He smashed into a boulder, carving a deep ravine in the ground as his body skidded to a halt.
But the assault wasn't over. The crimson beams, seemingly intent on his destruction, continued their relentless pursuit, slowly eating away at his chaotic power. Shock coursed through Ivan. He'd never encountered anything that could overpower his messy rules. Further delay would surely lead to his complete disintegration.
Ivan channeled every ounce of his power into his palms with a mighty roar. The chaotic energy erupted outwards, colliding with the scarlet light in a violent burst of energy. The force of the impact pushed the beams back, finally repelling them. However, the explosion also sent Ivan flying, his body battered and struggling for control.
Heaving himself to his feet, Ivan glared skyward. A colossal figure stood towering above him, nearly three meters tall. A swirling vortex cracked behind him, a gateway between dimensions.
"Just a friendly welcome, it seems," boomed a deep voice.
The newcomer was Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips. He hovered effortlessly in the air, clad in blue armor. His exposed skin resembled black rock, and his piercing scarlet eyes glowed ominously beneath his shaved head. These eyes were the source of the beams that had attacked Ivan – the Omega Beam, legendary for its ability to erase a victim from existence. Ivan theorized it harnessed the combined power of multiple high-level rules, including time, space, and causality.
However, Darkseid's appearance suggested he needed to be more skilled to wield the Omega beam's true power fully.
"Darkseid? What brings you here?" Thanos bellowed, his face contorted with rage upon recognizing the newcomer.
Darkseid remained unfazed by Thanos's hostility. Their mutual distrust was well established. Only their equal strength prevented them from erupting into immediate violence.
"Mere curiosity," Darkseid rumbled. "I heard whispers of your brawl and wished to witness the caliber of your opponent. Ivan, you possess impressive power. It was tempting to engage in a greeting of my own. However, your reception appears less than enthusiastic. Perhaps I should depart and allow you to resume your… altercation." He cast a pointed glance at Thanos.
The betrayal stung. "Barely two hours since we met," Thanos growled, his gaze narrowing at Darkseid. You've procured such timely intel unless..." Realization dawned, twisting his face into a snarl. You bribed my underlings, fostered a traitor!"
Darkseid dismissed the accusation with a nonchalant wave. "Don't be so dramatic. We take what's needed. Blame yourself, Thanos. You rely on the Mind Gem, subjugating countless races for your bidding, proclaiming yourself the universe's ultimate power. But the Gem's not omnipotent. Its control can be broken. I nudged a few minds free, allowing them to send word."
Murderous intent blazed in Thanos' eyes. "Excellent. Very well. You flaunt your treachery so openly. Perhaps we should settle our score today, the victor remaining here."
"On the contrary," Darkseid rumbled, a sly glint in his scarlet eyes, "Cooperation, not conflict, is my proposition. Why not eliminate this pesky Ivan together?" He swiveled towards Ivan, a malicious grin spreading across his face.
Thanos scoffed. He and Darkseid clashed often enough to know each other well. "Do you think I'm naive? Collaborating with you is like courting a tiger. You'd betray me in a heartbeat. Besides, my grudge against this Earthling is minimal. Why fight to the death?"
"True," Darkseid conceded, "but remember, he's an Earthling. Earth is an unavoidable obstacle to collecting the Infinity Stones. You already know the location of the Time and Space Stones. Sooner or later, you'll be launching an assault on Earth. Facing a formidable opponent then will be far from ideal. How confident are you in securing the Stones?"
Thanos hesitated. Collecting the Infinity Stones – using their power to cull half the universe's life, achieving his twisted vision of salvation – was his ultimate goal, an obsession he'd sacrifice everything for. Ivan's defiance had made his stance clear: an enemy. This fight revealed Ivan's strength, leaving Thanos doubting his ability to prevail. Earth held other powerful beings, too, and Odin's Asgardian forces offered another layer of protection. With his current strength, Thanos' chances of conquering Earth were slim. Yet, eliminating Ivan would significantly weaken Earth's defenses, a tempting prospect in his pursuit of the Stones.
The decision weighed heavily on Thanos. Darkseid observed patiently, confident Thanos would eventually cave. After all, Darkseid understood Thanos' motivations better than most. While Thanos reveled in destruction, his ultimate goal was a twisted form of saving the universe. Darkseid, on the other hand, craved absolute dominion. He operated in the shadows, meticulously monitoring the universe's power players. Like Ivan, anyone who posed a threat was marked for elimination – a potential pawn to be recruited but eliminated regardless. Ivan's defiance solidified Darkseid's resolve – such an independent force couldn't be tolerated in his vision of universal rule.
Meanwhile, Ivan listened to their exchange, his gaze flickering between them. With a helpless sigh, he reached into his armor and retrieved a mirror. "A shame," he muttered. "I was hoping to hold onto this trump card, but it seems that's no longer an option."
He tossed the mirror gently. It rose rapidly into the air, transforming into a massive, two-meter-wide circle. An image of Ivan stepped out of the reflective surface.
Both Thanos and Darkseid recoiled in surprise. This unexpected move hinted at a hidden power. Had Ivan been holding back all this time? Their gazes darted to the figure emerging from the mirror, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation swirling within them. What power did this strange apparition possess? Why was it considered Ivan's trump card?
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