As Black Adam and Frank continued their battle, the atmosphere around them shifted due to the presence of the observing Avengers. This shift affected each combatant differently.
For Frank, having the Avengers watching gave him confidence. He knew that even if he lost, his teammates would step in. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in the fight, treating it as an opportunity to learn from Black Adam—especially about harnessing the power of Shazam more effectively.
However, for Black Adam, the dynamic was far less favorable.
When he first encountered Clark and the Sentry, Black Adam was wary, sensing that their strength could surpass his own. He deliberately avoided conflict with them, unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
But after observing the abilities of Homelander and the Kryptonian mech soldiers, Black Adam reevaluated. He concluded that Clark and the Sentry likely weren't much stronger than Homelander—and certainly not on his level.
He avoided them initially to prevent being surrounded and overwhelmed but soon found himself intercepted by Frank and his group.
Now, as his initial rage began to subside, Black Adam realized the true danger of his situation. Frank was slightly weaker than him, but not by much. Adding the five other Avengers wielding Shazam's power, as well as Clark and the Sentry, he was effectively surrounded by a formidable force.
Most concerning to Black Adam was the presence of space-manipulating abilities. Such powers could prevent his escape entirely.
"Damn it, I should have left the moment I had the chance!" he thought, regret flickering through his mind.
"Boom!"
Noticing Black Adam's momentary distraction, Frank seized the opportunity. With a surge of power, he struck Black Adam squarely, sending him flying backward.
But to Frank's surprise, Black Adam didn't try to stop himself or counterattack. Instead, he used the momentum to retreat, hurtling toward the horizon in an attempt to escape.
"Trying to run? Not that easy," Steve muttered as he raised his hand.
A brilliant green glow emanated from him, forming a massive, domed barrier that enclosed the entire area. The green energy created a seamless spherical shield, cutting off all possible escape routes.
"What is this?!" Black Adam's eyes narrowed as he saw the green barrier ahead. Realizing that both the sky and the ground were sealed off, he gritted his teeth and accelerated.
He couldn't afford to stop now. Frank and the others could be dealt with later, but if he were captured here, he might never escape.
"Zzzt!"
Thunderous energy crackled around Black Adam as he channeled his divine lightning into his fists. Without slowing down, he rammed into the green barrier with all his strength.
"Boom!"
The impact reverberated through the area like the collapse of a mountain. However, the barrier held firm. To Black Adam's shock, it didn't shatter or even crack—instead, it stretched and absorbed the force of his attack.
"It's elastic?!" Black Adam muttered, bewildered. He couldn't comprehend the nature of this strange power.
Though he had sensed the full Shazam power within Steve earlier, this barrier didn't align with the abilities of any known gods. It was clear Steve possessed powers beyond divine energy.
Before Black Adam could process this further, a blur shot toward him.
"Bang!"
A powerful strike landed squarely on his head, sending him hurtling back toward Frank.
The attack came from Pietro Maximoff, whose superhuman speed—enhanced by the power of six different speed deities—was unmatched even by other Shazam-powered heroes.
"So fast!" Black Adam thought as he regained control midair. He couldn't understand how someone wielding the same power could be so much faster than him. The modern age baffled him more with each passing moment.
"Let Harry have a go," Steve said casually, gesturing for Harry Osborn to step forward.
Harry, eager to prove himself, flew toward Black Adam with determination burning in his eyes.
Upon spotting Harry, Black Adam raised an eyebrow. This man was less imposing than the others, with a smaller build and less apparent confidence. He seemed like an ideal target.
Harry, however, acted with caution. He unleashed a long-range lightning attack as soon as he approached, aiming to keep his distance while testing Black Adam's response.
"Hmph!" Black Adam scoffed, summoning his own lightning to intercept Harry's attack. He didn't stop there, however. Using the clash as cover, he launched his lightning directly at Harry's position, choosing to force a head-on confrontation.
"He's aiming for mutual destruction?" Harry thought, momentarily stunned by Black Adam's bold strategy. Unable to dodge in time, he braced himself as the two lightning bolts struck simultaneously—his against Black Adam, and Black Adam's against him.
Both combatants felt the searing pain of divine energy coursing through them. Despite wielding similar powers, neither could fully negate the other's attack.
However, Black Adam's lightning was clearly stronger. While he absorbed the damage with minimal strain, Harry faltered, his body briefly paralyzed.
Seeing his chance, Black Adam darted forward, closing the distance in an instant. He prepared to capitalize on Harry's vulnerability, intending to subdue him.
Harry struggled to regain control, summoning his remaining strength to channel his lightning. Just as Black Adam reached him, Harry unleashed a burst of energy in all directions, attempting to repel his opponent.
It was a valiant effort—one that marked a breakthrough in Harry's control of his powers. But it wasn't enough.
Black Adam, undeterred, pushed through the storm of lightning. With a resounding strike, he landed a blow on Harry, releasing another surge of energy directly into his body.
The clash of their lightning created a destabilizing effect, intensifying the damage for both combatants. Black Adam winced, but Harry bore the brunt of it.
"Ugh!" Harry groaned as the impact overwhelmed him. His Shazam form dissipated, leaving him in his normal, powerless state.
Lacking the ability to fly, Harry began plummeting toward the ground, his scream piercing the air.
The Avengers moved to intercept, but Black Adam was faster. He caught Harry mid-descent, holding him by the collar.
"Let him go!" Pietro shouted, visibly enraged.
"What's the matter, speedster? Weren't you fast enough to save him?" Black Adam sneered, tightening his grip on Harry. "Now he's mine. Tell me—who's faster, you or me?"
Pietro's fists clenched, his eyes narrowing. "Release him, or you'll regret it."
Black Adam chuckled darkly. "Regret it? I'm surrounded by your team, unable to escape. You think I don't know that? But with him in my hands, you'll think twice before making a move."
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