Chapter 126: Superman X, Unlock Successful!!!
High in the sky, the Clock King flew rapidly toward the Celestials, stopping after reaching a certain distance to hover and stare at them. Silently, the Shapeshifter oozed from the body's surface again, completing the fusion with the Clock King.
Her anticipation and tension interrupted, the Ancient One's expression froze: "This... doesn't seem to be Zhou Mo?"
The Great Clock King's form was still the one the Ancient One was familiar with, but its body was no longer pitch black; it was now a mix of pink and white. Within it, the Ancient One didn't feel the previous sense of familiarity, leading her to doubt whether this was truly Zhou Mo.
Confusion welled up from the depths of the Ancient One's eyes like spring water. She frowned and muttered to herself, "But if it isn't Zhou Mo, who else possesses the power of the Time Robot?"
"Or..." Her brow arched, her emotions becoming complex to the extreme: "Is this another form Zhou Mo has unlocked?"
"...The Time Robot has another form?!"
The approaching Great Clock King also drew the attention of the Celestials. They stopped their movements simultaneously, turning their heads slightly to look over.
The moment their gaze swept over her, Gwen felt as if her body was about to be torn apart by the sheer pressure!
However, it was only a single glance. After that one look, the Celestials indifferently shifted their gaze away and began walking forward again. The leading The Executorraised a hand, and his voice, like a massive bell, resounded across the Earth, echoing continuously and deafeningly.
"Zhou Mo."
...Inside the backup Base, even across a certain distance, the voice directly entered the ears of the Avengersheroes. Hawkeye and Natasha immediately gritted their teeth and covered their ears.
With his eardrums throbbing in pain, Hawkeye bared his teeth and said, "Guys, this isn't right. Isn't Zhou Mo right there in front of them?"
Steve frowned as he watched the screen, wanting to ask the same question. Indeed, for whatever reason, the Zhou Mo the Celestials were looking for was right in front of them—why would they choose to ignore him?
Startled by a certain suspicion, Steve instinctively looked at Stark beside him. On Stark's face, he saw the same gravity he felt.
There was only one answer left! This user of the Time Robot might not be Zhou Mo!
Once the hypothesis arose, Steve turned pale with shock, his heart trembling: "Someone other than Zhou Mo can transform into the Time Robot?!"
"More than that," Stark said in a low, somber voice, staring at the pink Shapeshifter on the Great Clock King's surface: "It's all of Zhou Mo's abilities."
These were the words Steve wanted to add but hadn't had time to say. Hearing them from Stark was like a thunderbolt exploding overhead. Those in the back who couldn't see as clearly, like Banner, were instantly dumbstruck.
The implications of those words were massive!
Looking at Stark, Banner didn't even need to ask to know what Stark was thinking!
If Zhou Mo's power didn't come from his lineage and wasn't unique... could Stark possess it too? Just like this pink robot on the screen? If so, Stark would no longer need the Mark armors; he would truly achieve his dream of protecting the Earth single-handedly! With the power of a mortal, he would rival the gods!
Catching Stark let out a weary sigh, the strings of Banner's speculation snapped. His gaze dimmed along with his bowed head.
Right, what was the point of saying all this? The most important thing now was the Celestials! If they weren't stopped, they could crush the Earth just by walking!
"Zhou Mo."
The Celestials' bell-like voice echoed again, shattering the clouds in the sky. The sound originated from the horizon and traveled to the far ends of the World. As the echoes returned, the Celestials felt no trace of Zhou Mo's aura within them.
Without any hesitation, Gwen turned and flew in front of the Celestials again, her presence like a mountain, standing firm to block their path.
Sensing that this female Great Clock King before them was far less powerful than Zhou Mo, yet showed no sign of retreating, the Celestials looked at her seriously. A familiar sensation hit her with geometric intensity; Gwenfelt the gravity on her body explode, as if it were trying to tear her apart alive.
Her clenched jaw caused the veins in her neck and temples to bulge. While forcing herself to endure, Gwenraised her hand, imitating the Zhou Mo in her memory, and waved to fire a Time Ray.
Facing this strike, the targeted Celestial didn't even glance at it, their gaze remaining indifferently fixed on Gwen.
In the next second, without any obstruction, the ray successfully hit its mark.
However, Gwen only felt as if the strike was a tiny stream hitting the ocean. After causing a faint ripple within the The Executor's body, it vanished in the blink of an eye. The The Executor remained unchanged!
Her pupils shrank suddenly, and a chill ran down Gwen's spine as she realized something was wrong!
The urge to retreat immediately, signaled by her Spider-Sense, was forcibly suppressed. At a time like this, Gwenbelieved that if Spider-Man didn't appear, the Earthwould only fall into greater chaos! Gritting her teeth to hold on, Gwen also wondered: why hasn't Zhou Moappeared?
After waking up in the morning, she had gone to university for classes. Discovering the Celestials' arrival on the way, she had rushed over. Logically, with such a massive commotion, even if Zhou Mo were sleeping in, he should have been woken up, right?
So why hasn't he appeared to face these Celestials who are here to hunt him down?
...The Ancient One, pondering the same question, arrived at a hypothesis. She froze, and as she stood motionless, a glimmer of light sparked in her eyes.
"Zhou Mo is actually... afraid..."
This was an explanation the Ancient One had never expected, yet it was the most logical one. Happiness came so suddenly that her face began to flush, and a smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
Well, what else? Was there any other explanation?!
Given Zhou Mo's personality, he would surely grind anyone who had harmed him into ashes, leaving no way out! The Ancient One had experienced this firsthand.
And now, the Celestials had come to his doorstep, issuing a global provocation, yet Zhou Mo still hadn't come out! Other than him hiding out of fear, what other explanation was there?
Thinking of her own experience, a flicker of doubt appeared in the Ancient One's eyes: "Perhaps he is plotting something? Like the divine turtle and clone abilities he suddenly unlocked when facing me?"
That doubt vanished when she spotted The Living Tribunal outside Earth. As if reborn, the Ancient One took a deep breath and exhaled a long sigh, releasing all the accumulated gloom within her. The smile returned to her face, and she placed her hands behind her back for the first time in a long while.
Her leisurely demeanor restored some of her former poise as the Sorcerer Supreme.
Seeing the World returning to how it was without Zhou Mo, the Ancient One chuckled softly: "Even if he can evolve other abilities, so what? Never mind whether Zhou Mo can actually defeat the Celestials."
"But with The Living Tribunal here," malice flared in her eyes, her gaze turning cold, "he is doomed!"
Unlike the Celestials, as the ruler of the infinite Universes, The Living Tribunal wielded the power of rules. He didn't even need to lift a finger; erasing any life was merely a matter of a single thought!
Simply put, even without the Celestials, the moment Zhou Mo showed his face, he would be insta-killed!
If the Ancient One was filled with joy and anticipation, then Odin was practically dancing with glee!
He wasn't a fool; how could he not know? The The Executor wasn't immune to the Time Rays fired by this pink Time Robot; it was just that... the effects were forcibly erased by Him!
At this moment, the phrase the Celestial had said earlier—"We can do exactly what he can do"—echoed in his ears again. Odin believed these were the most beautiful words in the World!
True, Odin also considered that the pink Time Robotmight be inferior in strength to Zhou Mo's Time Robot, a budget version. But... did the scene before him even need explaining? Nearly twenty Celestials gathered! Even if there was a gap in strength between the Celestials and Zhou Mo's Time Robot, such numbers would surely bridge that gap!
Unprecedentedly, Odin laughed heartily. As he whispered after his laughter, his expression looked slightly distorted: "Zhou Mo, just hurry up and die!"
Vaguely, Odin could already see his power and status returning with Zhou Mo's death!
In the next second, a squelching sound came from the projected image!
Looking closely, the pink robot had been insta-killed by the The Executor's hand. The ability was forcibly deactivated, and a white girl was flying out of control toward the building behind her!
..."How... how is this possible..." While flying backward, Gwen's consciousness remained: "How could I be insta-killed..."
Using Zhou Mo's Great Clock King in her mind as an anchor, Gwen was devastated by her current experience. She had used the exact same attack method as Zhou Mo, so why did this happen?
Seeing Gwen flying backward, Odin froze for a moment before laughing even harder.
"Now, even if you want to evolve new abilities from the Celestials, Zhou Mo, you won't be able to!"
The budget female Time Robot was insta-killed by the The Executor's energy. When the real version, Zhou Mo, came out, twenty Celestials filled with ultimate killing intent would strike together... they wouldn't give Zhou Moany chance to attack or fight back!
He wouldn't even be able to evolve; he would be insta-killed just like this human girl!
No. Odin corrected himself: "Zhou Mo will be insta-killed in a way far more cruel than this human girl!"
The human girl was just a stumbling block to be swatted away; Zhou Mo was their true and only target!
The Celestials' range of influence was so vast that even though media technology couldn't compare to Stark Industries, they easily discovered this scene. Inside the Daily Bugle livestream room, looking at the white girl who had been beaten out of her transformation and sent flying, the chat box was deathly silent.
Stark took this opportunity to deploy the battle plan. Before leaving, he paused to take one last look at the screen, murmuring, "Zhou Mo, will you appear?"
At the same time, on the other side.
Standing in Gwen's backyard, Zhou Mo looked up at the sky. A moment ago, beyond the Earth, he had felt an indescribable presence.
In that presence, he felt no goodwill, but no killing intent either. Coupled with the fact that it was fleeting, Zhou Mohad to dismiss the idea of engaging the Celestialsimmediately. In the Marvel Universe, terrifying entities appeared one after another; Zhou Mo had to cautiously consider the possibility of a trap.
He might as well wait it out; he had plenty of time. If the opponent didn't show their face, he wouldn't go out either. But what Zhou Mo never expected was that Gwenactually went out!
This was why Zhou Mo's expression was so grave now. He could ignore others' deaths, but Gwen, with whom he had just established and consummated a relationship? *Sigh*... yeah, he still couldn't do it.
However.
Zhou Mo smiled faintly. That was just now, but as for now... Zhou Mo's consciousness probed into the clumsy watch. Among the many alien hero entries, the glowing figure of Superman X was exceptionally prominent!
The clumsy watch and the love watch were connected. Just now! That one move by Gwen had directly triggered a massive crit! It caused the Superman X combat experience points to jump from zero to a hundred, filling up instantly!
With a cold snort, Zhou Mo looked back at the sky: "Heh, now, no matter who you are, it doesn't matter in front of my Superman X form."
With that, Zhou Mo released his aura lock and flew straight up.
Chapter 127: Superman X Appears! Abilities Scare Ancient One Silly!
Her powerful body proved its worth once again. Gwen, mid-flight, struggled to stabilize herself. She shot a strand of webbing from her wrist and, with a forceful tug, pulled herself onto the roof of a building. Landing in her signature pose, Gwen looked back at the Celestials, her face as grim as still water, not saying a word.
With the boost from her love watch, she had thought she would become much stronger! Who would have expected that she would be one-shotted by the Celestials before her transformation time was even up? Having no idea what to do, Gwen simply didn't know how to deal with these behemoths.
The only possible solution she could think of was Zhou Mo. At the thought of Zhou Mo, Gwen clenched her teeth.
For the safety of the Earth, she hoped Zhou Mo would come. But for Zhou Mo's safety, she hoped he wouldn't appear. Gwen's face was dark as she gritted her teeth, her mind filled with thoughts of Zhou Mo. Her appearance on the screen caused ripples to form in the silent Daily Buglechat.
"Wait, webbing?...Guys, she looks just like Spider-Man!"
"My god, I didn't expect Spider-Man to be a young girl. She looks like she's only just started college, right?"
"What's the use of saying all this? We're all about to die under the feet of these alien giants. They're going to flatten the entire Earth!"
"By the way, who is this Zhou Mo those bastards are looking for?"
A red figure streaked through the air at high speed. While rushing to the scene, Stark received a report on the global internet sentiment from Friday. Seeing the report's conclusion of extreme global panic, Stark felt a sense of powerlessness and an inexplicable surge of irritation.
This was the worst part of being a superhero—having to spare a hand to soothe the public while dealing with enemies.
"Tell them about Zhang Heng. The main point is that humanity has defeated the Celestials once and will do so a second time." Stark gave the simple command tiredly and returned his attention to the scene.
According to the display in his helmet, he also saw Gwen's identity as Spider-Man being exposed. Starkwasn't surprised by this; in that situation earlier, Gwenonly had two choices: use her powers or fall to her death. She had no choice at all.
However, Gwen's true appearance still gave Stark a bit of a shock: "Isn't this the girl who often appears by Zhou Mo's side?"
Immediately and subconsciously thinking of Zhou Mo, Stark opened his mouth and then closed it, hesitating to speak. He didn't say anything, only telling Friday to increase the energy output and speed up... Looking at Gwen, the Ancient One began to smile. She had known Spider-Man's true identity for a long time, but what made her chuckle was that Zhou Mo actually had such a cowardly side. The relationship between Zhou Mo and Spider-Man was definitely not ordinary; they had completely reached the level of being boyfriend and girlfriend.
Now, Zhou Mo's girlfriend was taking on a powerful enemy despite knowing it was impossible, yet Zhou Mowas hiding behind her, not even daring to show his shadow?
"Hehehe." With her hands behind her back and her hair fluttering without wind, the Ancient One laughed happily. "Zhou Mo, I didn't expect you to be afraid too." Saying this, she glanced at The Living Tribunal outside the Earth. The Ancient One let out a long breath, her laughter and breathing more relaxed than ever before.
While the Ancient One's laughter was somewhat restrained, Odin was clutching his chest, doubled over and slapping his thigh in unrestrained mirth, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes.
Before this, the impression Zhou Mo had left on Odin was that, although he was a bit eccentric, he was essentially cold and mysterious. Combined with his powerful strength, he had become a terrifying nightmare in Odin's mind.
But now, Odin discovered that Zhou Mo—this powerful and mysterious nightmare in his mind—was actually so scared that he was hiding behind his girlfriend, not daring to come out at all? How could Odin not laugh after seeing that!
On one hand, he laughed at Zhou Mo's cowardice; on the other, he laughed at his own overactive imagination!
"So in the end, Zhou Mo is just a human who can feel fear." Watching the retreating backs of the Celestials, Odin narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Perhaps the Celestials' previous assessment of him was correct—a human so weak he's not even worth as much as an ant."
The Celestials' bell-like shouts continued, the name "Zhou Mo" echoing throughout the Earth.
On his way to the scene, Stark received feedback from Friday. The deeds of Zhang Heng had been spread, but the effect couldn't be said to be useless; rather, it was counterproductive.
"Divine Spear? Do we have a Divine Spear now? Man, wake up, we're going to die!"
"Heh, I think Mr. Stark has already built his Noah's Arkand is ready to flee the Earth."
"Zhou Mo? The Celestials are looking for Zhou Mo, so why doesn't he come out?! Please, just come out and end this already!"
Seeing these top comments that clearly missed the point of Zhang Heng's deeds, Stark sighed in melancholy, unable to say a word.
He thought of that Eastern proverb: "A large forest has all kinds of birds." He had wanted to use this to soothe the public's emotions, but who knew their sentiment would be for Zhou Mo to hurry out and die to end it all.
Setting aside whether the Celestials would actually stop if they killed Zhou Mo, what obligation did Zhou Mo have to come out? Stark's memory was crystal clear; he had invited Zhou Mo to join the Avengers countless times, and every time he had chosen to refuse.
Strictly speaking, since he hadn't taken on the responsibility of protecting the Earth, he wasn't even a superhero—just an ordinary person who did as he pleased.
"The power of the people is great, but it is also blind," Stark commented softly. "Even if they are many, they have no right to decide the death of an innocent person."
However, Stark could also understand this sentiment from the public. Just as the online comments said, the Celestials wouldn't even need to attack; they could flatten the Earth just by moving!
Traveling at high speed, the giant figures of the Celestialswere already faintly visible. Looking at them, Stark's eyes twitched with a complex expression. "How can these monsters be so strong!"
They were existences far superior to Dormammu! The arrival of the Celestials was undoubtedly the second greatest danger the Earth had faced in over two thousand years. The first was the arrival of that Pregnant Female Celestial on Earth, also over two thousand years ago.
"Even if Odin and the Ancient One, plus Dormammu, all attacked at once, they wouldn't be a match for them, right?"
After saying this, the helmet's display zoomed in. Starksaw Gwen, who had switched to her Electric Lizardability, determinedly blocking the Celestials' path again!
While his heart was touched, black lines appeared on Stark's forehead. "Her courage is commendable, but isn't this just suicide? Even for a superhero, the thing to do right now should be to stay away from them."
The energy from the soles and palms of the mechanical suit erupted again. Stark, flying toward the Celestials, was exceptionally conspicuous... "If you are bent on seeking death, I have no choice but to grant it," the The Executor said indifferently as he looked at Gwen. As he spoke, he raised his palm and aimed it at the Electric Lizard.
"If I back down, even more people will die." The pressure caused cold sweat to break out on Gwen's forehead. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to raise her hands, preparing to absorb the energy the The Executor was about to blast.
Finally, in a voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz, Gwenmuttered to herself, "The greater the responsibility, the greater the power. Even if I die here today, I will not take a single step back!"
"Gwen."
Hearing Zhou Mo's voice behind her, Gwen instantly flew back hundreds of meters in delight.
The The Executor: "..."
Is this what they call "irony" on Earth?
Deactivating her ability, she threw herself into Zhou Mo's arms and cried with joy: "Zhou Mo!"
The The Executor's palm, where energy was circulating, came to a halt. He turned his gaze toward Zhou Mo, who was hovering high in the sky in his human form, one hand in his pocket and the other around Gwen.
"You finally came." The The Executor shifted the direction of his palm.
"Yeah, buddy, I'm here." Meeting his gaze, Zhou Mo gave a faint smile.
Seeing this scene, even though he had already prepared himself mentally, Odin's heart couldn't help but tighten, and he subconsciously held his breath.
"Until the Celestials one-shot Zhou Mo, I won't say a single word!"
"..."
"Sigh, I wonder how Thor is doing now."
His narrowed eyes were fixed on Zhou Mo. Odin hadn't expected Zhou Mo to actually dare to come! His brain was working rapidly.
"Is it the same as when he faced the Ancient One? Has he evolved a new ability? No, wait, no ability is a match for the Celestials! And his target is the Celestials; he hasn't fought them yet, so the evolution hasn't even begun!"
"Then what is he here for?" Thinking of this, Odin's eyes lit up. "To die? To choose a dignified way to go? Then... what else could it be?"
"Hiss~ If the Clock King uses clones, could he win against the Celestials?" Odin nervously began to ponder this question.
On the other side.
The appearance of Zhou Mo's figure brought a look of unease to her eyes. Suddenly turning her head, the Ancient One looked toward The Living Tribunal. The Living Tribunal was still standing in the same spot, with no intention of taking any action.
"How can this be? Zhou Mo's aura has been exposed. Shouldn't he have instantly obliterated Zhou Mo the moment he appeared?"
"Could it be that he has another plan?"
Her confusion was immediately dispelled. The Ancient One clearly saw that on The Living Tribunal's face, which only showed half, the corners of the mouth were slowly sinking!
Her brow jumped violently, and the Ancient One's eyes widened.
That was... feeling pressure?!
What kind of existence could bring pressure... to The Living Tribunal???!!!
She quickly turned her gaze back to the screen. From it, the Ancient One got her answer, and she was instantly petrified on the spot, her heart exploding with shock!
The new ability Zhou Mo transformed into... how did he do it??!"}],
Chapter 128: Superman X Takes Action, Odin, Ancient One, and Stark Are Scared Witless!
With Zhou Mo's reflection as Superman X in his eyes, Stark's flying speed didn't slow down in the slightest. He narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself, "A new form? What are his abilities?"
After muttering to himself, he glanced at the Celestialsagain, adding inwardly, "To deal with them, it must be a powerful enough ability."
At the same time, Odin didn't pay much attention to the abilities of this dark-skinned guy. In his opinion, as long as it wasn't an ability evolved from the Celestials, it wasn't worth fearing. Instead of worrying about this dark-skinned guy, Odin was more concerned about whether Zhou Mo would use the Time Robot plus clone combination!
As external thoughts varied, The Executor's palm, aimed at Superman X, surged with energy, and the energy within its body frantically poured into its palm. Everyone's hearts tensed up again after seeing this.
Odin cut off all distracting thoughts and nervously held his breath: "This strike will reveal the gap in strength between the two sides. Life or death, it will likely come down to this one moment..."
Against the backdrop of the Celestials' massive bodies, Gwen felt as tiny as a speck of dust! The shadow of being instantly killed reappeared, and subconsciously, Gwenhurriedly shielded Zhou Mo.
Gwen's anxious urging entered his helmet, and experiencing that familiar feeling of powerlessness again, Stark gritted his teeth. He had already pushed his speed to the maximum; he couldn't go any faster!
"Zhou Mo, be careful..."
Shielding Zhou Mo, Gwen had not finished speaking when she heard Zhou Mo's calm voice from behind her. The slight smile in that calmness made her freeze.
"I'm going to turn you into a pig."
As soon as Superman X uttered these words, the entire World fell silent without warning, and even The Executor's movements slowed after hearing them.
Turn, turn into a pig?
As if struck by a blunt object, Stark blinked blankly, completely unprepared. No, no! The Celestial has raised its hand, ready to kill you! Of course, you can speak in this moment of life and death, but what the hell is saying 'I'm going to turn you into a pig' to your opponent??!
In that moment of silence, the live stream chat exploded again.
"Dude? What are you talking about? This isn't playing house!"
"He must have been scared silly, right? Frankly, so am I, these Celestials are too terrifying!"
"Zhou Mo's dying words: I'm going to turn you into a pig."
In Deep Space, Odin, who had been too nervous to breathe, paused for a moment before bursting into laughter, holding his shoulders. "I've heard many harsh words before battles. But someone telling a joke before a battle, well, that's rare."
"Is he feeling inferior to the Celestials and trying to distract them and buy time?" Odin's lips curled up, believing he had deciphered Zhou Mo's trick.
But the next second, the smile on Odin's face froze. In that very second, he saw The Executor's expression clearly change, looking anything but comfortable.
"The energy gathered within it was interrupted?!" Odin's guess slammed into his brain, but everything happened too quickly, leaving him no time to think further. Immediately after, he saw it!
With a 'boing,' without any warning, The Executor, as tall as a mountain, actually turned into a small pig?!
Squealing, the pink piglet fell on its back, uncontrollably plummeting towards the ground.
At this moment, the World's uproar was paused, and the World once again fell into a deathly silence.
As if seeing a ghost in broad daylight, or being struck by lightning eighteen times in a row on the street, Stark's eyes widened in disbelief, and he was so scared that he completely froze!
"No, no! How did this Celestial really turn into a pig?!" Hovering in place, still shaken and blinking rapidly, Starkfelt his understanding of reality completely overturned.
Gwen watched the pink piglet fall towards the ground, then quickly turned her head, staring blankly at Zhou Mo, who had become Superman X, behind her, unable to utter a word. She knew there was still a certain gap in strength between herself and Zhou Mo, but had the gap really become this vast?
She was instantly killed by this Celestial, but Zhou Moturned this Celestial into a... pig with just one sentence?
Recovering, Gwen shook her head repeatedly, finding that she couldn't dispel the shock in her heart, and the astonishment and blankness on her face intensified. No matter how she thought about it, Gwen found it hard to accept all of this!
"I thought of a million possibilities, but I never dreamed the situation would take such a turn!"
Watching the continuously falling piglet, the despair in the live stream chat greatly diminished, and the comments became more lively.
"OMG! O! M! G! The Celestial actually turned into a pig."
"Honestly, I think now is my time to shine, guys. Leave the most dangerous enemy to me, that little pig, and you handle the rest."
"Hahahaha, can I serve it on the dinner table?"
The Judicator, leader of the Celestials, raised its hand, and The Executor, which had turned into a pig and was rapidly falling, suddenly ascended, its speed accelerating, and in a blink, it arrived in its palm.
Gazing at the pig grunting at it in its palm, The Judicatorlooked conflicted and speechless, the sadness in its eyes seeming to say, "Where's my brother?"
Superman X put his hands on his hips: "Didn't you see? Hehehe, I turned your brother into a pig."
...At this moment, the Earthlings might be very happy, but Ancient One couldn't be happy at all! Extreme terror covered her entire face!
This sudden turn of events certainly had some amusing elements, but Ancient One did not overlook its essence! Zhou Mo's new ability, in his transformed state, interrupted The Executor's gathered attack energy and forcibly changed its life form. A life form of a single-Universe-level powerhouse!
And to accomplish all this, Zhou Mo's new ability only required... speaking a sentence?! Ancient One's eyebrows nearly flew off in fright!
This wasn't funny at all; in fact, it was terrifying to the extreme! As her gaze returned to Superman X, Ancient One's heart trembled with shock: "He!... He seems to possess the power to change rules!"
Hastily, Ancient One's extremely urgent gaze shot towards The Living Tribunal, her heart practically screaming in amazement! This was the same power as The Living Tribunal!
The Living Tribunal's face turned grim, its mouth pulled down to its limit, indicating that its pressure at this moment was also considerable.
At this moment, Ancient One finally understood why The Living Tribunal hadn't immediately killed Zhou Mo: the power displayed by Zhou Mo's new ability was identical to its own! It wasn't confident that it could kill a Zhou Mowho possessed the exact same strength as itself.
Realizing this, Ancient One shivered violently again, muttering in a daze, "Zhou Mo's strength has reached the same level as The Living Tribunal..."
In Deep Space, Odin, who understood what had happened, not only didn't find it funny, but on the contrary, he felt like crying!
Gazing at the projection, Odin clutched his head, pursed his lips, and fought back tears: "I thought the Celestialscould erase Zhou Mo, thereby restoring the World to its original state, but... no one, no one thought that the Celestials, whom I had placed such high hopes on, would be, be..."
His movements stopped, and looking at The Executor in The Judicator's palm, Odin choked: "...turned into a pig!"
Odin speculated that Zhou Mo's new ability might be a perverted power where whatever he said would come true. So, he silently moved the previously tied second-place Energon King Kong and Electric Lizard down one spot, placing this Superman X as second, just below Clock King.
"No, if he really has this ability, he should be ranked first!"
After thinking carefully, Odin ranked Superman X first, Clock King second, and Energon King Kong and Electric Lizard tied for third. After another thought, Odin nodded in satisfaction: "This ranking should be fine."
...The well-informed Odin and Ancient One were scared out of their wits, but Hawkeye, who didn't know much about this aspect, seemed fine. He thought of Stephen's group of sorcerers, opened his microphone, and comforted them:
"Sorcerers can not only fly but also possess the magical ability to turn people into animals. This... Zhou Mo's new ability should be similar to these sorcerers, right? Relying on overwhelming strength to arbitrarily control the opponent's transformation?"
The heroes roughly thought about it and realized it seemed to be true? Immediately after, Stark, who was frozen in place, roared into his earpiece: "I must remind you all, the Celestials are beings who govern the entire Universe!"
As soon as these words came out, Hawkeye felt as if he had been doused with ice water. After a moment of stunned, he slapped his thigh in annoyance. Yes, how could he have forgotten this point! It didn't matter whether Zhou Mo's new ability was like a sorcerer's, relying on overwhelming strength to transform the opponent!
The most powerful Celestials in the Universe were instantly killed by his single sentence! That almost explicitly stated that if Zhou Mo wanted to, he could completely change the entire Universe with just one sentence!
Realizing this, Hawkeye's mouth fell open in fright, his face pale and speechless. Meanwhile, Stark, fearless, sped towards the scene, his figure resolute and filled with intense urgency.
Zhou Mo's new ability to control the entire Universe was, of course, the reason for Stark's emotional breakdown. The power conveyed by a single sentence, capable of changing the entire Universe, was a power Stark believed should not exist at all!
But at the same time, Stark didn't forget that Zhou Mo's abilities all had weaknesses: "Perhaps after I arrive, while persuading the Celestials to leave, I can inquire about the weakness of Zhou Mo's ability."
He muttered to himself twice, and Stark found that at this speed, he would reach the scene in less than a minute.
"Hiss, before, Zhou Mo always took the initiative to say the names of his abilities, and we seemed indifferent. Now, we care, but he's not actively saying it... What is the name of this new ability?"
Stark thought of this question during this time... The Judicator in the magic projection held The Executor in its palm, silently gazing at Superman X, not uttering a word. Behind it, however, more than a dozen figures shot out with a 'whoosh'! A dozen Celestial members attacked Superman X simultaneously from different directions with different attack methods!
Upon seeing this, Odin's eyes lit up slightly, and his heart rippled.
He thought that some Celestial members must have turned off their hearing for safety. Even if Odin didn't want to face it, he admitted that their simultaneous attack was their last hope!
"Can, can they win?" Odin started to get nervous again.
Immediately after, Zhou Mo's laughing voice came from the screen: "Do you think my ability is only this?"
These words made Odin's heart sink in fright, his eyes widening: "Not just this?! There's more?!"
As if in response, Odin saw that with a wave of Superman X's hand, a scene far more shocking than before, enough to blow his mind, appeared!
When he saw one detail, Odin's pupils instantly constricted into pinpricks in fright!
"This, how is this possible??!!"
"How could this be??!"
Chapter 129: Superman X: What's there to fear? These are all my micro-maneuvers, don't be shocked. The Living Tribunal arrives!
Right in front of Zhou Mo, under these circumstances, the Celestials had no choice but to fight for their lives.
Holding the advantage in numbers, they all moved together, either clenching their fists or channeling energy, attacking from different directions with various strikes to fight for a chance at victory.
The Celestials were as majestic as high mountains, surrounding Superman X with this method of attack. At a glance, The Judicator could only see Superman X's figure through the gaps.
Immediately, the chaotic scene came to a halt as Superman X raised his hand. Under The Judicator's gaze, Superman X's movement was by no means swift; on the contrary, it was extremely slow—so slow that even Starkcould see it clearly without the aid of slow-motion playback.
But, at the very moment Superman X raised his hand, over a dozen members of the Celestials stopped without warning, remaining motionless in their original positions.
Odin's heart sank: "Did Zhou Mo use the Time Robot's ability?!"
Just as the suspicion arose, Odin saw that as Superman Xcontinued to raise his hand, the space around him began to shatter. The area of fragmentation wasn't large, resembling a full-length mirror in a clothing store on Earth.
However, from within it, Odin saw another Superman Xwalking out of the shattered space!
"Cloning ability?!" His mind in a chaotic mess, Odinrealized something was wrong! Since when could Zhou Mo use three abilities at the same time?
Yet, Superman X's hand-raising motion continued; until now, his hand had only just begun to rise. As he continued, the sky turned into dark purple clouds, rolling like angry waves.
With one look, Odin saw Dormammu's body reconstructing and repairing itself within the clouds!
Odin felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his body trembling before standing frozen in fear. Everything before him told him that this wasn't a Dormammu from another Universe, but the very Dormammu who had been killed, now resurrected!
Swallowing hard with a gulp, Odin fixed his gaze on Superman X. The more he looked, the more panicked he became, and he couldn't help but curse: "Damn it, why don't I see any trace of the Time Robot on him?!"
As Superman X raised his hand toward the purple clouds covering the firmament, the scene beneath his feet suddenly changed!
Noticing it from the corner of his eye, Odin couldn't help but look. He saw that beneath Superman X's feet was no longer the landscape of Earth, but vast stretches of Deep Space! From within, one Celestial after another was flying out!
No one, no matter how strong-hearted, could withstand this. Odin cried out in panic: "The Multiverse? Zhou Moopened the Multiverse?!"
At this point, Superman X's movement stopped. Dormammu couldn't resist Superman X at all. The Dark Dimension energy filling the purple clouds flowed toward Superman X like a stream.
Accompanied by a long, drawn-out cry of "NO" toward the sky, Dormammu's newly reconstructed and resurrected body was torn apart. His body fragments turned into specks and spots, swept away by the stream toward Superman X.
With his hands on his hips and his mouth slightly open, the pepper soup and daokou roast chicken continuously poured in. Superman X couldn't help but let out a satisfied hum: "This is what I've been waiting for. Damn, this feels great!!!"
The opened Multiverse beneath his feet was like one deep well after another. The Celestials flying out spotted Superman X immediately, their voices low and teeth gritted like crashing thunder: "What are you doing?!"
"The consequences of opening the Multiverse are more than you can bear!"
Superman X chose to ignore them, while the summoned Superman X gave them a cold, indifferent glance. That single look silenced the entire scene. Following that glance, "splat, splat" sounds of bodies bursting rang out continuously. A vast number of Celestials exploded like tomatoes, and in the blink of an eye, a large swath of them was dead.
Immediately after, the summoned Superman X also waved his hand, and roars of fury erupted on the scene.
"Argh! I'm going to kill you all!"
"Bastards! How dare you harm the great Zhou Mo? Zhou Mo is our Sun! Without you, we cannot live!"
"Zhou Mo is the general who leads us, the creator of all things! Your salt, my vinegar—long live the great Benevolent Father, General Zhou!"
Amidst the continuous explosions and deaths, the Celestials from the Multiverse began to slaughter one another. Among them, Odin even saw one who, before exploding, was jumping around with hands raised, shouting Zhou Mo's name with tears of gratitude streaming down its face.
Under the impact of the current situation, the influence of these words on Odin's heart was completely negligible. His tense face didn't relax, and he didn't even dare to breathe loudly!
Odin discovered with horror that he couldn't find any trace of other abilities in Zhou Mo's new power!
"If Zhou Mo wanted to use a Cloning ability to recreate himself, there would be no need for him to shatter space. This summoned one isn't himself either..." From the summoned Superman X, Odin felt only unconscious obedience.
"If it wasn't created through cloning, what else could it be..." In his muttering, Odin's pupils suddenly dilated to their maximum: "It could be 'just now'!"
"He distorted time and summoned the 'him' from just a moment ago!"
Once he reached this conclusion, Odin was shocked beyond measure. Goosebumps covered his body, and every hair stood on end.
"This is the only logical explanation! If Zhou Mo's ability hadn't just been unlocked, he wouldn't have needed to hide from the Ancient One, nor would he have needed to wait until after his girlfriend had been defeated once to appear."
"The fact that space was broken indicates he didn't use a Cloning Ability either; using a Cloning Ability doesn't require breaking space. There is only one conclusion! The one he summoned... is himself from a moment ago!"
"..." Having said that, a feeling of dread erupted from the soles of his feet and rushed to the top of his head. Odin's eyes and mouth both opened as wide as possible.
Others call for team members or companions when they fight, but Zhou Mo calls for his past self?
While still in shock, Odin suddenly thought of something else, and his urgent gaze returned to the projection. When his eyes fell back on the summoned Superman X, Odin's self-muttering began again, but compared to before, his voice was now not only trembling but also filled with terror.
"This is Time."
Shifting his gaze to Dormammu: "This is Reality." Landing on the Celestials from the Multiverse, Odin's trembling voice carried a hint of sobbing: "This is Dimension."
"No." Thinking about how they had turned from being furious at Zhou Mo to their current state of mutual slaughter, Odin added: "This is Consciousness."
His eyes continued to search, but Odin could find no more new information. After staring blankly upward for a moment, he spoke in a trembling voice: "Zhou Mo's new ability can easily distort time, reality, dimension, and consciousness without the support of any other abilities..."
"And to do all this, with his new ability, he only needs to wave his hand lightly..." Having finished, Odin wailed with a mournful face: "How the hell is this possible?!"
Under Superman X's command, the Celestials began to kill each other. Even their leader, The Judicator, could not escape. Ignoring the pig in its palm, it picked one out and flew up to fight desperately.
The bright red blood of the Celestials and the remnants of white energy fell. At that moment, Odin, having finished his wail, noticed the little pig falling naturally. Looking at its body soaked in white energy, he blurted out: "This is a Snow leopard..."
"Oh, no! Damn it, it's The Executor!"
...Zhou Mo, transformed into Superman X, continued to enjoy the wonderful flavors. In his arms, Gwen glanced around blankly, looking on in a daze.
As if pushing a straw, Superman X extended a finger and pushed the stream composed of Dark Dimension energy and Dormammu's remains in front of Gwen: "Want a taste?"
After thinking about it, Gwen took a sip and spat it out immediately. She thought to herself, what on Earth is this! Why does it taste like drinking paint?!
Seeing her look of shock, Superman X pulled the stream back in front of himself and said disdainfully: "pepper soup and daokou roast chicken—you can't even enjoy such worldly delicacies? Your taste needs some improvement, Gwen."
Gwen's eye twitched. pepper soup and daokou roast chicken? Looking around once more, Gwen raised an eyebrow. Is now really the time to be enjoying pepper soup and daokou roast chicken, I ask you?!
In just these few breaths, eighty or even ninety percent of the numerous Celestials had already died! Looking around, under the piles of corpses and seas of blood, it was difficult to find a single surviving, intact Celestial.
A sense of helplessness swept through her mind, leaving the Ancient One speechless: "The Celestials of this Universe wanted to kill Zhou Mo, so Zhou Mo killed all the Celestials in every Universe. This style is indeed very much like Zhou Mo..."
"Able to distort time, reality, dimension, and consciousness..." The Ancient One looked toward The Living Tribunal: "Can he defeat Zhou Mo's new ability?"
After saying that, the Ancient One thought about the question for two seconds and suddenly realized with a start that her thoughts had shifted from 'Zhou Mo's new ability is as strong as The Living Tribunal' to 'Can The Living Tribunal defeat Zhou Mo?'
"What kind of existence is this new ability?!" The Ancient One looked at Superman X in bewilderment, unable to understand no matter how hard she racked her brain. What exactly was this ability?!
From Zhou Mo's previous delay in appearing to his current ease in slaughtering everyone! The only difference was this new ability. But what exactly was it? How could it easily change all the rules the moment it appeared?!
Thinking about this question, the Ancient One's facial features were almost twisted together!
At that moment, without a sound, The Living Tribunalappeared beside the Ancient One and said solemnly: "I think I may not necessarily be able to defeat him. I need to find The existence of the highest dimension."
The existence of the highest dimension? Those words made the Ancient One's heart sink. Was there an existence of an even higher dimension than The Living Tribunal?
But wait! Didn't those words mean that The Living Tribunal was admitting he couldn't beat Zhou Mo and was going to find help?!
The Ancient One's mind reeled. Could The Living Tribunalreally not defeat Zhou Mo? And all because of the appearance of Zhou Mo's new ability?!
Just as the Ancient One was losing all hope, The Living Tribunal, sensing something, suddenly changed his tone: "Wait, I can win!"
The Ancient One looked up and saw The Living Tribunal's figure flying toward Earth!
While Zhou Mo on Earth was... Hmm?
Seeing this, the Ancient One frowned. What was going on?
Wait! If that was the case, it seemed The Living Tribunalreally could win!
The Ancient One's hope was rekindled, because this time, Zhou Mo...
...would definitely die!
Chapter 130 – Superman X's Fatal Weakness! Strike While He's Down; The Living Tribunal Makes Its Move!
Celestial flesh rained down in shards, shrinking as it fell, and vanished before it could reach the portal to the lower Multiverse.
Stark looked around and could not find a single living Celestial. All he saw was everything dissolving like snow, revealing the true face of New York beneath.
Less than five meters from Superman X, Stark stopped at the sight of his back. The chill radiating from that silhouette froze Stark in place, terror glinting in his eyes.
In Stark's eyes, Superman X had become a supreme being, awe-inspiring and terrifying.
He still couldn't fathom how Zhou Mo possessed such horrifying power—not just in this Universe, but across the entire Multiverse! After gaining this new ability, Zhou Mocould wipe out every Universe with a word or a wave of his hand.
His mind roiled. Watching Superman X's back, Stark felt it swell without limit while he and everything around him shrank into nothing, as if a vortex yanked him backward.
'All the Multiverses are like a ball in his palm…' Starkmuttered, dazed, no longer knowing how to face Zhou Mo.
One wrong sentence might make him switch to this power and destroy the Universe with a single phrase.
Cold sweat beaded on Stark's forehead; every nerve tightened. Given Zhou Mo's mercurial temper, it was entirely possible.
'If I can't anger him, I'll play along. How does he like people to act…?' Blinking, Stark thought fast—and the image of the Celestials jumping, arms high, tears streaming, flashed through his mind.
Since Zhou Mo had rewritten their minds to make them do that, it probably showed what he wanted to see.
Black lines crept across Stark's forehead; his mouth twitched. 'Don't tell me from now on everyone has to leap up with raised arms, sobbing and shouting: "Long live the great and benevolent Father General Zhou! Without you we cannot live!"'
Glancing again at Superman X's back, Stark decided that, compared with annihilating all reality on a whim, Zhou Mo was far more likely to enforce this.
While Stark stood transfixed, Gwen's voice came from Superman X's arms: 'Zhou Mo, what is this ability? Why don't I have it?'
With his goal achieved, everything he had created began to vanish. Gazing with satisfaction and reluctance at the remains of the Dark Dimension, Zhou Mo answered casually, loud enough for Stark behind him to hear.
'Superman X, why don't you have it?' Superman Xglanced at Gwen and curled his lip. 'Because you're not as good-looking as me.'
Their talk snapped Stark out of his thoughts. He looked from Gwen—now the female Electric Lizard—back to Superman X, the corners of his eyes twitching. Good-looking? Where, exactly?
After the silent complaint, Stark brightened and exhaled in relief. 'So his title is Superman X.'
His gaze fixed on Gwen in her Electric Lizard form, pupils gleaming. Stark realized his worry had been groundless. Zhou Mo had shown no sign of destroying any Universe, and—Gwen! And Wanda! Zhou Mo had faced danger again and again for those girls; how could he choose to annihilate the Earth or the Universe they lived in?
Stark breathed easier. 'So love really can save the World.'
'Though two girlfriends…?' About to grumble, he recalled his own habit of swapping supermodels daily and decided it wasn't an issue.
'Hmm—if Zhou Mo likes women, can I keep him calm long-term through that?'
'As his best bro, of course he deserves the same treatment I used to get. But to manage it, I'll assemble them into a team. Since its purpose is Zhou Mo's pleasure, let's call it the Pleasure Squad.'
While Stark's mind wandered, Gwen spoke again, her tone suddenly serious.
'Zhou Mo, what's wrong?' Reverting to human form, Gwen expected the romantic-lead treatment—only to find Superman X standing motionless as if frozen.
A thought struck her and she jerked her gaze skyward.
Had another enemy arrived and paralyzed Zhou Mo?
The question yanked Stark's attention back. Hovering behind Superman X, he couldn't see the details, so he pushed stray thoughts aside and flew around to face him.
His warm greeting was cut short by Zhou Mo's icy snarl, so cold Stark feared he was about to die.
'Hey, my good buddy Zhou Mo, sorry I was late—'
'Enough, Selena, Verikas—you will listen to me!'
Hearing a name that wasn't his, Stark froze two meters in front of Superman X, staring at the hero's grim face while question marks popped over his forehead: Who on Earthis he talking to?
Puzzled, he glanced at Gwen; their eyes met by accident and Stark promptly offered the classic French salute, raising both hands. "Miss, you've got to believe me—I don't have that kind of power."
Only then did Gwen bank the killing intent in her eyes. Turning back to Superman X, she kept patting and softly exploring his body with her small hands. "Zhou Mo, are you feeling all right anywhere?"
Superman X stayed silent, face set like stone, and Zhou Mo's heart sank with it. He'd long braced himself: from here on he needed to consult Selena and Berikas about everything; only when those three agreed could Superman X's full strength be unleashed.
But… did the Dark Dimension really have to be erased forever?
Hearing that Selena planned never to let the Dark Dimension appear again—not even once—Zhou Mo was so furious he nearly blacked out.
He lived for the flavor of the Dark Dimension and Dormammu—how could she take that away?
All he asked was to rebuild the Dark Dimension and Dormammu once a week and devour them as nourishment. Why wouldn't Selena grant such a tiny request?!
While Stark stood speechless and Gwen fussed over him, Superman X finally spoke. "My demand is simple: once a week, rebuild the Dark Dimension and Dormammu so I can consume them. You know I won't let him cause any harm."
Gwen froze. Who exactly was Zhou Mo addressing?!
Stark's breath hitched; he blinked, thinking, What in the World is going on here?
Dormammu: Resurrect me every week just so you can eat me every week? Come on, Zhou Mo—I've got an early shift!
After those words fell, no matter how Gwen called out, Superman X didn't utter a sound, standing motionless as if time itself had stopped. The girl nestled against him was almost scared to tears.
What's happening? Zhou Mo, move! You're a fresh-faced college guy—here I am throwing myself at you, and you still don't react—wahhh!
"Selena, Berias." Watching the motionless hero, Starkrubbed his chin thoughtfully. After a moment he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Friday, what do you make of this?"
"Sir, possible dissociative-identity disorder or some form of schizophrenia."
Stark gave a covert nod; it matched his own diagnosis. He lowered the hand from his chin and exhaled a long, complicated breath.
"So this is Superman X's weakness?" Stark was stunned. It wasn't fear of some elemental counter, nor a fragile spot on his body—no outside attack required. The weakness itself could simply take him out of the fight?
"Possible. The moment Zhou Mo transformed, he froze like a statue."
"Tch—this weakness… is downright lethal!" After a sharp inhale Stark decided it even made sense—Superman Xwas simply too overpowered otherwise.
Recalling the hero's earlier behavior still gave Stark chills. "With this flaw, at least we can rein in some of his power."
He exhaled, clearing every stray thought, then flew up to Superman X. "Miss, the smart move is to get out of here first—agreed?"
Gwen swallowed her sobs; she had to admit he was right. Superman X's freeze was an internal issue, there were no enemies about, and any problems could be handled back home. She nodded.
Stark nodded back while scanning the surroundings.
Spider-Man was thinking the same: no hostiles, no threats, plenty of time—once home they could study Superman X's condition at leisure. The immediate problem was how to transport the completely immobile hero.
"Sir, the transport craft is already en route."
Stark nodded in satisfaction—Friday really was intelligent. To whisk the motionless Superman X away, a cargo lifter was indeed the best option.
Just before he looked away, Stark froze, brows knitting as he sensed something off. "Hmm? It's here already?"
Even as he spoke he watched the figure descending from higher above; every muscle in Stark's body snapped taut, fists clenched for battle.
Seeing The Living Tribunal's bizarre form, Starkinstinctively stepped between him and Superman X, voice low. "Who are you?!"
Those words pulled Gwen's gaze; following Stark's line of sight, the instant she spotted The Living Tribunal her gut screamed that he was here for Zhou Mo. Without hesitation she shifted into Electric Lizard form.
Right now Zhou Mo couldn't even move; he couldn't even cancel the Superman X transformation. Gwen vowed to protect him, heart racing.
But thankfully…
Gazing at The Living Tribunal, Gwen smiled slightly.
This oddly shaped alien in front of her shouldn't be stronger than the Celestials.
Zhou Mo wouldn't need to lift a finger—she could solo him herself!
With that thought, Gwen shot forward, flying straight at The Living Tribunal.
And the next second she…
Chapter 131 – The Living Tribunal: Superman X? What a Pathetic Superman X
Under the dual boost of Electric Lizard and Crystal Warrior, Gwen flew toward The Living Tribunal.
She had only been airborne for a moment when she saw the Tribunal reach toward her. It was clearly just a hand, yet Gwen felt as though she were facing a spear that could tear through everything.
The spear's thrust carried a biting chill that grazed her temple. Gwen's heart clenched; before she could grasp what had happened, her powers were forcibly stripped away.
Like rootless duckweed she hung in the air, unable to move. Startled for a second, Gwen paddled her arms as though swimming, but still couldn't budge. She was about to switch into Fire Man form.
Then, to her horror, she discovered her link with the love watch had been severed.
She jerked her head up at the Tribunal, a chill finally creeping into her heart. Who—who was this alien with a cloth covering his head?
At the same time, Stark swallowed silently; in that single gesture from the Tribunal he had felt the same dread he'd sensed from Superman X.
Deep Space.
Odin, stunned by how fatal Superman X's weakness was, had his attention pulled to the projection the instant the Tribunal appeared. Watching the Tribunal, Odin was equally puzzled.
That figure was utterly alien to his vast memory: "Who is this?"
After a moment's blankness, Odin chuckled in self-mockery: "Again with this routine?" He glanced around for a way to leave.
He didn't know whether the Celestials' magic projection would keep running after their death, but since they were dead he had no reason to stay.
He cared nothing for what would unfold in the projection; with his end nearing, he'd rather return to Asgard and spend more time with Thor.
Pacing inside the Barrier, hunting for an exit, Odinsneered: "Next act: everyone thinks Zhou Mo will die, but at the critical moment he recovers, one-shots the enemy, and that's that."
"I've seen this plot too many times; it no longer interests me."
Indeed, even from countless miles away, a single glance told Odin how lethal Superman X's weakness was—no outside attack needed, his own multiple personalities could bicker him into defeat.
But Odin had truly seen this too often.
Zhou Mo shows a flaw, Zhou Mo is doomed, Zhou Mo is about to die! And then—what the hell? Zhou Mo gives his victory speech?!
Especially after pinning his hopes on the Celestials, Odinfelt nothing anymore.
To drop that Earth girl in an instant? Odin smiled confidently; if she didn't use a transformation like Zhou Mo's, he could do it too.
As for this oddly dressed fellow? Odin cast the Tribunal a pitying glance—just a stronger version of himself.
Even as he thought this, a change in the projection caught Odin's notice—though only barely. "I suggest you identify yourself, or you'll be the first enemy my nano-armor defeats!"
Faced with Stark's fierce warning, the Tribunal turned and studied him for several seconds. A strange sensation struck Stark: though he couldn't see the being's eyes, he somehow felt... recognized?
The Tribunal said nothing, merely flicking a hand; two tiny spheres of light shot from his fingers.
They drifted unhurriedly toward Stark and Gwen, carrying no hint of harm.
"No need to dodge; you'll know who I am." At the Tribunal's calm words, Stark clenched his teeth.
Damn it, I can't move a muscle—how am I supposed to dodge?
The two motes sank into their foreheads and dispersed like mist.
The instant movement returned to Stark's body, he jolted as if electrocuted, pupils shrinking violently: "The Living Tribunal?!"
Gwen's eyes dimmed as she echoed the knowledge now in her mind: "Sovereign of all Universes, an omnipotent God..."
The next second Gwen snapped her head up. With the Tribunal's arrival she could finally glimpse, beyond Earth, a broken patch of space where a figure flickered.
"Ancient One!"
Hearing Gwen's sharp cry, the Ancient One beyond Earthsmiled. "So, they now know of The Living Tribunal."
What had just happened wasn't hard to guess: the spheres had carried knowledge of the Tribunal and his purpose. Understanding who had arrived, the Ancient One felt their reaction was only natural.
With a smile she lifted her chin. "Now I need only wait for the Tribunal to erase Zhou Mo and set everything right."
To her, this was a huge surprise. She'd thought The Living Tribunal's odds were too slim and was ready to leave—who could have guessed that the moment Superman X's weakness showed itself, The Living Tribunal's chance of victory shot straight to one hundred percent?!
If they still lost now, it would be an outright injustice against heaven… The instant the realization hit, Stark shot to Superman X's side, sweat pouring from his forehead, his face flushed as he lost control and roared, "Zhou Mo! Wake up! Damn it, wake up, Zhou Mo! Move!"
Even as he roared, Stark gripped Superman X's shoulders, meaning to shake him hard—yet the thing was solid as steel; no matter how he strained, it wouldn't budge.
Stark was briefly stunned; the armor he piloted now was the upgraded nano-suit! How could he fail to move Superman X an inch?
His action drew a flicker of doubt across The Living Tribunal's face: "Stark, you are a man cursed by knowledge; I thought you would understand me."
"Go to hell!" Stark snarled over his shoulder. "I don't give a damn about your so-called cosmic repair! All I know is, you who call yourself the supreme god—faced with Ancient One's failure to kill Zhou Mo, instead of condemning her you choose to help her finish the job!"
You have no right to speak of justice at all!"
Hearing this, The Living Tribunal showed neither joy nor sorrow—only a trace of bewilderment in its eyes.
Odin, meanwhile, played the peanut-gallery spectator; rubbing his chin in thought for two seconds, he hissed, "Well, that does sound pretty damn excessive."
From that brief exchange Odin read the cause: after Ancient One's attempt to kill Zhou Mo failed, she hadn't died but—by some twist—met this righteous supreme being; learning of her plight, it resolved to help her slay Zhou Mo.
Since it didn't affect him in the least, Odin—setting aside his titles as Guardian of the Nine Realms and King of the Gods—judged from a purely spectator's view: "Bearing the name of a supreme god of justice, you really shouldn't do such a thing."
That's not justice at all!"
With that, Odin glanced again at Superman X, who remained motionless, deaf to Stark's every call.
Odin raised an eyebrow. "So next, The Living Tribunal is going to kill Superman X, still standing there like a punished child?"
To Stark's fury, Ancient One only smiled more serenely. "Stark, you're wrong. The reason isn't that The Living Tribunal lacks justice—it's simply…"
Ancient One clenched her teeth. "Zhou Mo deserves to die—nothing more."
Gradually the last trace of doubt faded from The Living Tribunal's eyes; its calm tone now carried an unquestionable authority.
"You cannot stop me." With those words, the hand it had lowered lifted once more.
Stark planted himself before Superman X, bracing for an attack—but none came. He whipped his head around; Superman X was likewise unharmed.
Just as he began to exhale in relief, Stark saw the sealed multiversal portal below rip open again!
From thin air, masses of flesh appeared within the space, surging toward the portal; in moments, Celestial after Celestial re-coalesced.
Whoosh! The instant a pair of titanic eyes snapped open, Stark felt his heart clench in agony, his breath stop.
"Your salt, my vinegar—glorious Father General Zhou, ten thousand years!"
"In General Zhou's stead, I'll slaughter the lot of you!"
The Celestials' minds remained intact; as a reformed one raised a fist to strike a fellow, The Living Tribunal spoke a single "Halt," and their consciousnesses snapped back to clarity.
Beyond that, Stark saw the vanished Dark Dimensionrewind into existence above.
Recalling the promise to devour him once a week, Dormammu had come snarling for Zhou Mo—but one glimpse of The Living Tribunal sobered him, and he fled headlong.
The Living Tribunal made no move to stop his rout.
Staring at its back, Odin could no longer play spectator. "Reality, space, time, and consciousness—all twisted and corrected by The Living Tribunal?!"
He's actually on the same tier as Superman X?!"
A tremor ran through Odin; his gaze settled on Superman X, the surging emotion within him sinking into silence.
Watching The Judicator fly toward Superman X, Odinsmirked. "So what? Judging by how things are going…"
His words cut short—because the next second—
Bang!
Superman X was sent flying!
Odin's face froze, his brows knitting tight.
"I swear, Zhou Mo's Superman X could wipe them all out—but the problem is…"
"Superman X, why aren't you moving? Just move!"
Thus, in the next instant, the joy on Ancient One's face drained as something caught her eye—hm?!