The new match lineup appeared on the screen.
Gilgamesh turned to Tina and said quietly,
"Tina, this is your last chance. If you lose again…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but everyone knew the implication. If she fell here, the Dragon Ball wish would have nothing to do with her.
Ikaris folded his arms, speaking with arrogance,
"Then we just take them. With our power, it wouldn't even be a challenge."
To him, the answer was obvious. The ten Eternals together were invincible. Druig could control minds, Gilgamesh was their tank, Kingo their marksman, Sersi their illusionist, Makkari their speedster, Phastos their seal master, Ajak their healer, Tina their warrior, himself the powerhouse, and even Sprite with reality manipulation. A perfect team. Could the League of Assassins possibly resist them? Since coming to Earth, they had never known defeat.
But Ajak shook her head.
"We swore not to interfere in the lives of humans. That includes seizing their treasures. If not for Tina's eternal sickness, we wouldn't even be here."
She understood better than most. The Eternals' true purpose was to prepare for the birth of a Celestial. Helping Tina was simply to ensure she could fulfill her role in the future. To risk war over Dragon Balls was unnecessary.
And Ajak's years on Earth had changed her. She had grown fond of humanity. Perhaps the Dragon Balls could truly alter the course of this world. But that was something she would need to discuss with Smith Dole.
Hearing her refusal, Ikaris fell silent, though his eyes lingered on Smith Dole with suspicion.
Gilgamesh broke the tension.
"This is only the second Dragon Ball Contest. That means there will be a third, a fourth, maybe more. Even if we lose now, there will be another chance."
Tina nodded.
"We've lived thousands of years. What's a few more? If I fail here, I'll fight again next time. But this time… I will give everything. I'm confident I can defeat Tony Stark."
The others nodded, though desire for the wish still smoldered in their eyes.
Meanwhile, Tony examined the fractures in his armor from the fight with Thor. He debated calling down another suit from orbit. But all his other models were titanium-based. Only this one was built from secondary adamantium. Against Tina, switching would be suicide. He chose to keep it, carefully avoiding the weakened joints during combat.
Karl Mordo, despite his loss, remained in the stands, brooding. He still believed the Dragon Balls could grant at least one of three wishes. Perhaps he could negotiate with Smith Dole, offering his wish to Kamar-Taj to strengthen Earth's defenses against dimensional threats. Maybe that was the true reason the Sorcerer Supreme had sent him. But he hadn't expected Earth to harbor so many hidden powers. If they could all be united against the outer dimensions, how much stronger would their fight be?
In contrast, T'Chaka had only one thought: Wakanda's vibranium must remain secret. Against beings of this level, Black Panther was nothing—just a turtle shell. If word spread that Wakanda had vast reserves of vibranium, they would never know peace again.
…
The half hour passed swiftly.
Eddie Brock strode into the arena with his mic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Round Three of the Dragon Ball Contest begins now! Xu Wenwu versus Thor Odinson!"
Both fighters entered, one with the Ten Rings, the other with Mjolnir. Smith Dole wasted no words.
"Begin!"
Thor wasted no time. With only one Dragon Ball left, he couldn't lose his chance to resurrect his brother. He raised Mjolnir and summoned a storm. Endless lightning cascaded down upon Wenwu.
Wenwu didn't meet it head-on. He spread the Ten Rings, forming a blue barrier that whirled around him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunder roared again and again, but the shield held.
Thor snarled. Not enough. He pushed harder, godly power flooding through his veins. Mjolnir blazed with divine fury as he called bolt after bolt, for more than a full minute.
The sky blackened. Lightning fell without pause, countless strikes hammering Wenwu.
"For the glory of Asgard!" Thor roared, summoning the mightiest thunder he had ever wielded.
A single colossal bolt split the heavens, lancing straight through the arena. The titanium-alloy stage disintegrated instantly, reduced to ash.
Even Smith Dole's eyes widened. The sheer force rivaled the lightning Thor would one day unleash against his sister.
Boom!
The Ten Rings' barrier shattered. Wenwu was blasted off his feet, hurled across the ground, his body charred, hair frizzed into an explosion of black strands.
In the stands, Xu Xialing and Shang-Chi cried out in horror.
"Father!"
(End of Chapter)
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