"What a bunch of weak, low-intelligence creatures," Galactus sneered, looking down with disdain at the fallen Avengers scattered across the ground.
He had originally thought that beings capable of wielding the power of the Infinity Stones would be formidable. Yet, before he even needed to show his true strength, these so-called heroes had already collapsed.
"If you possess Infinity Stones, I'll find them after I devour this planet," he declared coldly.
A shimmering phantom emerged from Galactus's massive body — a towering pillar of energy. As it fully materialized, the pillar stretched impossibly high, seemingly piercing the heavens themselves. It radiated a terrifying aura of overwhelming power and endless consumption.
Everyone present felt their hair stand on end. The oppressive force from the pillar made their instincts scream in terror.
"Boom!"
The pillar slammed into the riverbed with a deafening crash. Instantly, the ground beneath it melted away under the devouring energy, rapidly disintegrating into nothingness.
The surrounding seawater frantically tried to rush in and refill the void, but the moment it touched the vicinity of the pillar, it was vaporized into mist. In just seconds, everyone could feel the sea level visibly drop.
"Ah, such a delicious flavor!" Galactus exhaled, clearly relishing the 'taste' of Earth.
"If you have spacecraft," he said with cruel amusement, turning his gaze toward the survivors, "I suggest you leave this planet immediately. Otherwise... you'll be swallowed up with it."
"BOOM!"
Suddenly, a flash of azure light exploded across Galactus's chest, blasting him backward.
"What was that you just said? I didn't quite catch it," came a voice, calm yet filled with terrifying force.
From out of nowhere, a figure clad in black armor appeared before Galactus — shining with a brilliant azure blue light. Gene had arrived.
"I suggest you, Galactus, leave Earth immediately," Gene said coldly, "Or I'll kick you off this planet myself."
Galactus narrowed his eyes at the black-armored figure in front of him, his expression darkening. The wounds left by the industrial cannons fueled by the Infinity Stones were still fresh in his memory.
"So, it was you," he said through gritted teeth.
"That's the Black Devil..." Reed whispered to Stark, struggling to stay conscious. "It seems like his power... it might actually rival Galactus."
"I hope you're right," Stark muttered weakly. Inside his armor, his energy detectors were going crazy — screaming alarms at the massive, unmeasurable energy readings coming from both combatants.
Gene smirked under his helmet. Without warning, he unleashed a palm cannon straight at the massive energy pillar embedded in the riverbed — shattering Galactus's connection to it and interrupting his consumption of Earth's life force.
"You know," Gene said, his voice dripping with menace, "the Infinity Stones... are in my hands."
Galactus bellowed with rage. Old wounds and fresh fury combined as he roared and lunged at Gene.
Despite his enormous size, Galactus moved with terrifying speed. His giant fist hurtled toward Gene, aiming to crush him where he stood.
But Gene's V-shaped eyepiece flashed scarlet. With a surge of blue light, a chaotic portal opened behind him. In a blink, Gene vanished — reappearing instantly behind Galactus.
His palm cannon, charged with the energy of the Space Stone, unleashed a blinding beam straight at Galactus 's back.
Galactus reacted quickly, a red shield of energy materializing around him to resist the Space Stone's devastating force.
The collision between the azure beam and the red shield rocked the battlefield. A tremendous explosion erupted, evaporating the seawater for a full kilometer around them, exposing the bare riverbed beneath.
Gene's thrusters flared to life as he shot forward like a missile, swinging a vicious punch into Galactus's chest.
The impact sent the towering entity flying through the air like a ragdoll.
"My god... this is insane," Stark muttered from the ground, his eyes wide with shock.
The Black Devil's power was beyond anything he had ever imagined. And what were these "Infinity Stones" that both sides were fighting over?
Galactus stabilized himself midair, his body radiating a horrifying energy. Waves formed beneath his feet from the sheer force of it.
He stared at the blue-lit figure before him, his heart boiling with fury.
To think... an Earth creature — a so-called 'low-intelligence being' — had wounded him. Him! The invincible Planet Devourer, Galactus!
If word of this got out, it would be a laughingstock among the gods of the universe.
With a wave of his hand, the massive energy pillar dissolved into a phantom and returned into his body. At the same time, his form began to shrink — compressing his vast might into a human-sized figure.
But this new form was even more dangerous.
The surrounding space itself twisted under the pressure of the energy he now released.
Galactus was done playing games.
Now, he would fight seriously.
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