The blush that had misled everyone on the woman's face had faded away, leaving only a complicated expression.
This was the first time she had witnessed Ronan's close combat abilities.
And on the side, Ronan was utterly bewildered.
What is this? What are you trying to do?
I refuse to *mmm mmm* with you, but you don't have to take out your heart to show me, right?
This is what people in love do when they're deeply infatuated, and even then, it's only metaphorical.
But you literally took out your heart. Didn't you consider that with your torn clothing—
Ahem.
How should I put this? Ronan is still a minor and a proper young gentleman.
"Uh… can I make a suggestion, just a suggestion."
"Could you cover yourself up a bit? I'm still a kid, I can't be seeing this kind of stuff."
Ronan covered his face with his hands, but there was just the slightest gap between his fingers.
Yes, just a little gap, just enough to breathe.
Tony Stark, the team fight bystander, and Doctor Strange, who had been hiding the whole time, both looked utterly hopeless.
Dude, now of all times, you're still pulling this kind of act?
She's literally taken out her heart, clearly about to unleash some big move.
Can we please win the fight before you start showing off? Otherwise, karma's going to hit you hard!
Tony Stark discreetly took a step back.
He didn't want to be collateral damage when Ronan got himself killed.
After all, he knew firsthand how painful it was to fall from the sky.
Ronan didn't even bother to look at their expressions.
These two were like those useless teammates in competitive games, always shouting, "I'm on my way," "I'm almost there," "Go, go, go, I'm right behind you," when in reality they were miles away, farming silently.
As for what they were saying, just ignore it.
So, Ronan chose to ignore their reactions.
"Do you think you've won?"
"Don't you feel that your life is about to end?"
The woman gritted her teeth, practically spitting out each word.
Even from this distance, Tony Stark could see her body trembling slightly.
Tony Stark took a deep breath and silently gave Ronan a thumbs up.
At the same time, he made a decision.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would never engage in banter with Ronan.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"If that's the case, how about we make a deal?"
"Let's pause the fight for a bit so I can go to a coffin shop and have a coffin made."
"And while I'm at it, I'll change into a fresh set of clothes."
"Then when you kill me, these two can carry me into the coffin and bury me. How does that sound?"
Ronan stroked his chin, his expression serious as he presented this idea.
Splurt!
There was a soft pop.
The woman had crushed her own heart in her hand!
Tony Stark, who had already taken off his helmet, gaped, his world shattered by the sight before him.
Ronan, standing nearby, was also shocked.
They say only people who've been heartbroken know what it feels like to be "torn apart."
But…
This literal heart-tearing was something Ronan had never seen before.
Indeed, the longer one lives, the more one sees. The ancients did not lie.
Ronan wholeheartedly agreed with this saying.
"Ronan!"
"This world is being consumed by dark energy, and it's all your fault!"
"You can't save this world, and you have no future!"
"The real me will build a grave for you in the future, to commemorate the you that never existed."
The woman gave Ronan a maniacal smile as she uttered her final words.
The mirrored dimension she had maintained all this time suddenly shattered.
A surge of dark energy ripped apart her clothing.
"Ahhh!"
Ronan cried out, hurriedly covering his eyes.
Leaving just enough of a gap for breathing.
Huh? How come the underwear didn't—
Ahem, ahem, he's a minor, he can't watch this!
"Ahhhhh!!!!"
As the woman's body was exposed to the air, she let out a scream of agony, as if she were under some terrible assault.
But even though she was in immense pain, her eyes remained locked on Ronan, as if she wanted to see his despair.
However, she was disappointed.
Even now, Ronan still looked indifferent, even yawning.
Ronan's mirrored dimension enveloped everyone at that moment!
"Damn it, this level of dark energy…"
Doctor Strange's expression was the complete opposite of Ronan's.
He hadn't encountered this level of dark energy in ages.
Back then, he had used the Time Stone to force Dormammu into a retreat and make him sign an unequal treaty.
Since then, the universe had never been invaded by dark energy.
But now, this terrifying dark energy had once again invaded Earth.
One misstep and the entire Earth would face an unprecedented crisis!
Now, Doctor Strange finally understood why, before the fight, the woman had taken out her heart and crushed it.
It was likely to release the dark dimension energy within her.
But Ronan patted him on the shoulder.
"Relax, young man. Don't look so shocked."
"Didn't you face off against Dormammu head-on?"
"Are you really going to lose your cool over this little bit of dark energy?"
Ronan looked exaggeratedly astonished.
Doctor Strange's face turned dark. Could this situation really be compared?
Back then, he had the Time Stone, so he tricked Dormammu, and that's how he managed to hold him off.
Now, he didn't have the Time Stone!
And the opponent was just a pure energy entity; there was no way to communicate!
Seeing his expression, Ronan sighed.
"Young people, always so inexperienced. You need to be more mature and stable."
"Look at me. I'm not panicking at all."
Ronan patted Doctor Strange's shoulder, signaling him to relax.
But how could Doctor Strange relax?
One slip-up, and the Earth would be in danger of disappearing!
If Ronan's mirrored dimension vanished, the dark dimension energy would completely take over the Earth.
Then…
Doctor Strange didn't dare to think about what would happen next!
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Ronan looked up at the sky.
Doctor Strange rolled his eyes and muttered, "Are you going to eat it or something?"
However, what Doctor Strange never expected was that Ronan actually turned his words into reality.
"Well, kid, you've got a point."
"Time for an all-you-can-eat buffet!"
With that, Ronan, under Doctor Strange's astonished gaze, soared into the air and headed straight for the dark energy.
Is he suicidal?
That was Doctor Strange's first thought.
"Wait!"
"That's all dark energy! If it entangles you, you'll—"
He didn't even finish saying "fall," when he saw the dark energy engulf Ronan.
"...What the f*ck!?"