Deadly Shadows surged like a tide.
At the center of this tide, scarlet energy rotated, spreading in a perfect sphere. The last time Wanda had faced such an intense battle was in Mephisto's Hell. The boundless Shadows of the Sentinel had engulfed Earth and now surged back toward her like a returning wave.
Chaos Magic could reshape reality, and so could the Sentinel. Even with Wanda fighting at full strength, she could not decisively defeat him.
The Sentinel was formidable—among all Earthlings across the Multiverse, aside from Malrick, he was the most powerful adversary Wanda had ever encountered. Moreover, the fallen Earth was entirely his home turf. She also had to protect Carter, preventing her from going all out.
Fortunately, the Shadows could not completely suppress Wanda. Layer by layer, her Chaos Magic pushed outward. As long as the battle continued, victory over the Sentinel hidden in darkness was only a matter of time. Yet Wanda's mind raced, worrying about the Avengers who had been transported away. She lacked time.
"Sorry, Jarvis," she murmured, "leaving the task of appeasing the Sentinel to God."
A Sling Ring appeared in Wanda's palm, glowing with scarlet energy. Embedded in it were the Time Stone and Reality Stone. She twisted her fingers, wearing the ring, prepared to confront the Sentinel fully, no longer holding back.
Crisp cracking sounds echoed from various corners of the surrounding space. Wanda paused.
"On your left!" Captain America's voice warned beside her ear.
Carter and Wanda turned in time to see a massive, iron-bucket-like head crash through the black Shadows. Hanging on the construct were Captain America, Banner, and four others—the Avengers who had been transported away, everyone except Tony.
As expected, this massive red iron-bucket-like head was Tony's handiwork.
"Don't worry, little girl. We're here!" Hawkeye called, stepping onto the head's ear while drawing his bow. Two Infinity Stones embedded in the weapon gleamed brightly.
"This move," he said, smirking, "Malrick helped me name it: One Meteor Stream!"
The bowstring stretched to its maximum, blue and purple light crackling between bow and arrow. Hawkeye's aim was flawless. He released.
Buzz!
The blue-purple arrow streaked through the darkness like a shooting star, tearing through space. Air rippled violently along its path, shattering the surrounding Shadows like glass.
At the core of the pierced darkness, the Sentinel, pitch-black and shadow-like, raised his hand, intending to block the arrow as before. But he was too slow. The arrow, empowered by the Space Stone, had already reached him.
Boom!
The impact erupted in a roar of energy, rolling across the area, scattering the Shadows. The Sentinel's chest armor was damaged and fluttering, yet his black body bore no visible injuries.
Before anyone could react further, Pietro leaped from the red iron-bucket-like head, feet glowing blue-green as they cut through the air. Each step sent ripples of energy outward. He ran in midair, defying gravity.
"You're fast, huh? Let me show you who's faster!" Pietro shouted. With his shoes enhanced by the Space and Time Stones, he became a blur of motion.
In an instant, he surged into the energy tide. The Sentinel, struck by Hawkeye's arrow, was staggered, chest armor fluttering, yet standing firm. Pietro unleashed a storm of punches, spinning and striking with the speed of a Gatling gun. Six thousand blows in mere seconds, encircling the Sentinel and hammering him front and back.
"Hmph! True speed!" Pietro grinned, turning to the others. "Don't worry, I'm holding back. I won't let him die!"
His grin faded as he felt the strain. He blew on the backs of his hands, wincing. Thousands of real punches had impacted his palms, but his superhuman physiology prevented serious injury.
From a distance, the Avengers were stunned.
"Pietro, move! Get out of the way!" Captain America shouted, hurling his shield. Blue energy from the embedded gem caused the shield to flicker through space, appearing in front of Pietro.
Clang!
The shield struck Pietro, sending him flying backward. Midair, he grabbed it, flipped, and landed steadily. Turning back, he saw the Sentinel standing firm, chest armor fluttering but otherwise unaffected.
Those thousands of punches had seemingly done nothing.
"Is this guy's body like Superman's?" Pietro muttered, eyes wide.
The Sentinel's faintly glowing white eyes beneath his black face made Pietro shiver. A premonition surged—he felt like an antelope cornered by a leopard.
As expected, the Sentinel vanished and reappeared behind Pietro.
"Teleportation!?" Pietro gasped, narrowly dodging a crushing punch in super-speed. But the Sentinel targeted him again, teleporting beside him and delivering another lethal strike.
The two continued exchanging blows in midair, teleporting and striking in a deadly dance.
"Impressive. Next time Malrick needs a masseuse, Pietro's the guy—nobody beats his speed," Tony's mechanical voice quipped from inside the red iron-bucket-like head.
"Tony, stop verbally attacking teammates mid-battle!" Captain America said, patting the construct.
"Verbal attack? No, I'm just recommending a good job for Pietro!" Tony replied, slightly raising his tone.
"Alright, everyone, I see none of you can handle that mentally ill charcoal gentleman," Tony continued. "So, next up—let's bring out the grand entrance of the Celestial Armor!"
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