Thrum—!!
A deep, heavy sound reverberated through every inch of the transit area, shaking not only the surroundings but the entire Devastator itself.
As Shatterer's hammerhead struck Darth Vader's invisible barrier, it was forcefully repelled—as if an unseen wall of energy had erupted from the air—sending a shockwave that caused Gabriel Angelo to veer slightly off his intended path and feel an indescribable impact.
Even so, the raw, overwhelming force of Shatterer continued to rip the area apart. Gigantic cracks splintered across the metal deck, and scattered fragments flew in all directions.
Had their battle occurred at the edge of the ship, a breach of the hull would have instantly sucked them into the void of space, endangering the stability of the entire vessel.
It was this very circumstance that allowed Darth Vader and Gabriel Angelo to continue their duel.
Seeing this, Gabriel—under his helmet, his expression unflinching—appeared unsurprised. Perhaps deep down he had expected that the Dark Lord would use the unique power of the Force to nullify his physical strikes.
Gabriel understood well that while Vader's armor and his half-mechanical body were not quite on the same level of raw physicality as his own, the Dark Lord still commanded a power that could not be ignored.
Adjusting his stance, Gabriel gathered his strength and swung Shatterer in a brilliant arc through the air, hurling it once more at Darth Vader with renewed determination.
This time, however, Gabriel did not rely solely on physical force—he infused Shatterer's striking edge with psionic energy. Electric arcs danced along the hammer's blade, accompanied by a thunderous roar like a storm unleashed.
The surging psionic waves intermingled with the raw metallic momentum, creating a devastating, lightning-like tempest that tore through the air.
In response, the moment the Dark Lord sensed Gabriel's renewed assault, his body—previously seen kneeling in a dazed state—swiftly recoiled, evading the full brunt of the hammer's impact once again.
Though Vader's physique might not match Gabriel's in terms of speed and reflexes, his deep Force-sensitivity and precognitive ability allowed him to anticipate Gabriel's attack path, enabling him to retreat with precise timing.
In that instant, under the dim lighting, Vader's black armor glimmered with a cold sheen as he dodged the direct strike. Seizing the moment, Vader raised his left hand swiftly; his palm seemed to channel an inexhaustible well of Force power.
Then, as if an invisible chain had materialized, the Force itself reached out and bound Shatterer's hammerhead, diverting its trajectory.
With expert control over the Force, Darth Vader swung his left hand in a fluid motion, employing techniques akin to telekinetic deflection and energy dissipation. The redirected momentum sent him hurtling backwards by over ten meters, carving an almost graceful, yet rapid arc through the air.
The explosive impact of the psionic hammer, mitigated by the Force's intervention, failed to inflict fatal damage.
Darth Vader then slid to a stop at a corridor's threshold, his metal boots scraping against the deck and leaving a deep indentation.
Step by step, as his heavy boots resumed their measured rhythm on the deck, Vader and Gabriel managed to create distance between them.
At this moment, the flickering, dim overhead lights revealed Vader's mysterious, imposing silhouette, while Gabriel stood resolute, neither charging forward nor swinging his hammer.
The tension between them seemed to freeze the very air.
After this brief exchange, Vader revised his earlier assessment and now held a new understanding of Gabriel's combat ability.
Facing Gabriel's close-range assault, Vader realized that if he were to limit himself to a purely physical contest of strength and speed, he would inevitably be drawn into Gabriel's tempo.
Gabriel's fighting technique was extraordinarily precise—each swing of Shatterer resonated like thunder.
Even though Vader had the advantage of the Force and could predict Gabriel's actions for a split second, missing that crucial moment would have dire consequences.
After all, while Gabriel had countless opportunities, Vader only had one chance.
It was no wonder Scarif had fallen so quickly.
If even Vader could be subdued by Gabriel, then ordinary Shock Troopers, when confronted by the might of an Astartes assault, would have no recourse but to either surrender or face certain death.
Inside, complex emotions roiled within Darth Vader.
On one hand, he felt a grudging respect for Gabriel's raw combat power; on the other, his dark ambition burned fiercely—an insatiable hunger to gain power by any means necessary, to shatter all limitations and ascend to the pinnacle of strength.
If Gabriel claimed to be "human," then surely there existed in other universes or dimensions means to help him "transcend" further.
Such untapped potential, if fully harnessed, would make him even more formidable.
In that moment, deep within Vader, a torrent of desire surged forth like a dark tide.
Of course, provided that his own gene-seed remained undiluted—otherwise, Vader wouldn't have maintained his half-mechanical form for so long.
After all, while cloning new limbs might offer temporary recovery, Vader believed that the Force itself was sufficient to sustain him.
Moreover, a complete bodily restoration would weaken his connection to the dark side and limit his Force usage, making his physical deficits and constant pain a crucial, deeper reliance on the dark power.
Simultaneously, Vader noticed that Gabriel was also wielding a kind of supernatural energy similar to the Force.
If he could capture Gabriel and study his abilities, it might reveal the secrets behind the extraordinary power that drove the Blood Raven commander.
In mere moments, Vader resolved that he must capture Gabriel, seize or absorb his power, and make it his own.
Having made his decision, Vader no longer waited—he decided to strike first and seize the initiative.
Calmly, he raised his right hand, cutting through the heavy air.
In an instant, the hilt at his waist broke free from its restraints and flew into his right hand.
Without delay, as soon as the hilt made contact and was firmly grasped, it began to transform—
Hum—!!
The blade extended abruptly, transforming into a blazing red energy sword that burst forth like a searing beam of light, its humming sound filling the space as if it were a signal awakening the darkness itself.
The red blade shone with profound radiance, and as it extended, the pressure and shockwaves in the surrounding air intensified, as if the very space were being torn apart by this immense energy.
The brightness of the blade, burning like a raging inferno, mirrored the cold, decisive gleam in Vader's eyes.
In that moment, Vader's form, enhanced by his dark power, appeared even more majestic—as if he were a wrathful deity from the depths of hell, ready to annihilate anything that stood in his way.
At that sight, Gabriel also swung Shatterer once more, as if determined to respond with his own psychic and physical might.
Under his helmet, Gabriel's expression remained cold and resolute, as if he had already anticipated Vader's intentions.
After all, to face one of the universe's peak warriors was a rare honor—a chance to meet an opponent who could match his own strength, to finally test his abilities on an even playing field.
Suddenly—
Step, step!
Amid the clashing of metal boots on the deck, Darth Vader suddenly advanced, his heavy steps seemingly shattering the very air around him.
As Vader moved forward, his figure appeared as a specter cloaked in darkness, shrouded in a veil of inky mist that spread outwards in an instant.
At the same time, Vader raised his left hand sharply, his palm thrust out toward Gabriel. A massive surge of Force energy erupted, surging towards Gabriel with a ferocity that belied its silence.
Prepared for this, Gabriel, with his imposing presence, quickly raised his left arm. A translucent energy shield materialized around his massive form, successfully deflecting the menacing Force attack from Vader.
Boom—!!
The collision between the psionic energy and the Force unleashed a deafening roar that shattered the silence, generating powerful gusts that scattered nearby debris.
Yet, despite this, Gabriel could not completely escape the overwhelming pressure of the Force.
Even though his energy shield absorbed much of the impact, Vader's Force power was immense—so much so that Gabriel's massive body began to waver under its relentless onslaught.
After all, Darth Vader was capable of crushing a starship with a mere gesture.
Though Gabriel had been trained by the Primarch and had honed his psionic skills to a level far superior to that of any "ordinary" warrior, he still found it nearly impossible to use his abilities to casually obliterate a Paris-class escort ship.
Now, Gabriel was effectively locked in a duel with an onslaught akin to colliding with a starship, the tremendous force compelling him to retreat repeatedly.
Screech—crack—!!
Under the force's relentless pressure, the magnetic soles of his boots gripped the metal deck, producing a piercing, slicing sound as friction tore at the deck's surface.
The deck itself vibrated, trembling under the pressure, and the entire area began to warp and distort, the metal panels fracturing under the strain.
Sparks flew as the metal surface was ripped apart by the friction, illuminating the contours of Gabriel's towering form for a split second.
In that brief, tense moment, Gabriel fully realized that the Dark Lord before him was far from an ordinary opponent.
In terms of physical might, ten Darth Vaders might not be enough to match him—but when it came to supernatural power, the gap was undeniable.
Whether in controlling psionic energy or harnessing the full depth of the Force, aside from the Primarchs, Darth Vader was clearly the strongest opponent Gabriel had ever faced.
And as the overwhelming Force pressed down on him, Gabriel could almost hear a whisper—a chorus of cold, seductive voices, full of absolute power and temptation:
"Give up,"
"Become my apprentice,"
"You cannot resist the dark."
Those words, like venomous serpents, coiled around Gabriel's heart, attempting to tear his will apart and force him to surrender.
With the gradual intensification of the Force's pressure, Gabriel felt his own psionic strength being rapidly diminished; his body grew heavier by the second.
Soon, his breathing became labored, and the internal struggle in his mind grew agonizingly painful.
In contrast, Darth Vader moved with a confident, measured stride, as if victory were already assured.
Step, step.
Vader's imposing figure advanced, shrouded in dark mists that enveloped his entire form, then suddenly spread out.
At the same time, Vader lifted his left hand once more and executed a powerful push, channeling a torrent of Force energy that surged forward like a tidal wave aimed squarely at Gabriel.
Prepared for the attack, Gabriel swiftly raised his left arm and brought his integrated parallel explosive rifle to bear—its muzzle aimed directly at the Dark Lord standing before him.
Rat-a-tat—rat-a-tat—!!
The unique staccato firing of the explosive rifle resounded throughout the area, its muzzle spewing over a dozen high-explosive rounds, each one slicing through the air as it hurtled toward the Dark Lord.
The 1.0-caliber high-explosive rounds carried massive destructive potential, theoretically capable of obliterating most carbon-based life forms.
Yet, Darth Vader appeared undeterred by theoretical damage.
Facing the incoming rounds, Vader neither dodged nor flinched. Instead, he seemed to accept his fate.
Then, with exaggerated precision and without any unnecessary movements, the Dark Lord drew his lightsaber, its red blade flicking through the air. With each precise thrust, he deflected the incoming explosive rounds one by one.
Boom—Boom—!!
The subsequent explosion's shockwave rippled through the confined space, and smoke filled the air, momentarily engulfing Darth Vader's form.
This, in turn, alleviated much of the Force pressure on Gabriel.
At that moment, the communications channel crackled to life with a report from the Blood Raven guards:
"Commander, we have successfully completed the objective. Also, Agent Kennedy's team has successfully executed their initial infiltration."
Hearing this, Gabriel wasted no time. He turned sharply toward the hangar and, breathing heavily, commanded, "Copy that! All units, retreat immediately!"
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Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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