Chapter 126: Your Speed Force is So Useful
Impossible!
Grodd's eyes were wide, shot through with blood.
He had realized his opponent was strong and fast during their last exchange. He was already mentally prepared for that.
But at least until just now, their speeds hadn't seemed that different.
Yet in a single instant, in what felt like the blink of an eye, his opponent's speed had surged as if he'd become a completely different person. He could nonchalantly watch Grodd charge, even waiting until the gorilla's fist was nearly on his face before dodging aside.
And Grodd couldn't even see his trajectory!
How could anyone's speed suddenly multiply so many times in the span of a single breath? Could it be... he was toying with me before?
No, how could any being in this world be so much faster than Grodd?
He turned his head in horror to look at Orin Vale, who had teleported to the side with a graceful dodge and was now relishing that last burst of speed.
At that moment, Grodd recognized the brilliant, lightning-like effect radiating from his body, the fluctuation of that energy.
"Speed Force!" Grodd's eyes widened. "You stole my Speed Force!?"
Orin Vale was about to say that wasn't quite accurate. He hadn't stolen the Speed Force at all, but was simply running his own Light according to its principles. This was also why, unlike Grodd who could only leech a trickle of power from a pathetic little pipe, he had his own Light to use as a source for conversion.
But on second thought, he figured there was no need to explain.
So he simply smiled faintly.
"Yeah, your Speed Force is great to use."
Grodd was already steeped in the impotent rage of having his Speed Force seduced away, and hearing this pushed him over the edge.
But after realizing the difference in their speed, he didn't attempt another reckless charge. Instead, he unleashed his other specialty.
Telepathy.
He had actually tried this at the very beginning of their encounter, but for some reason, it seemed to have no effect on this strange man before him. This was Grodd's innate talent, one that his fellow gorillas did not possess. He had never before encountered an individual who could resist this ability, yet this person's mind was like an impregnable fortress, impossible to breach.
But that didn't matter.
After connecting to the Speed Force, Grodd had been thrilled to discover that it also amplified his mind. Now, his telepathy could do more than just invade minds; it could also manifest as telekinesis!
He appeared to be in a state of impotent rage, but that was merely a cover for his true killing move.
The special alloy blades from the weapon rack in the back, along with the debris and rubble from the collapsed structures, silently rose into the air behind Orin Vale.
Golden lightning appeared, coiling around those objects as they shot fiercely toward Orin Vale's back.
A sneak attack!
Grodd's eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth turning up involuntarily.
Success!
Huh?
Grodd's smile gradually faded, replaced by bewilderment.
Because he could feel that the objects under the control of his telekinesis had been stopped in their tracks.
No matter how hard he strained, they wouldn't budge an inch.
"A sneak attack from behind... what a classless gorilla."
Without even turning his head, Orin Vale gently crooked his finger.
The "hidden weapons" that should have been under Grodd's control flew over his head and appeared before him, turned around, and locked onto Grodd like arrows ready to be fired.
Grodd's mouth slowly fell open, a question mark seeming to materialize above his head.
Not only was this person faster than him, but his psionic power, which he prided himself on, was also stronger?
Seriously, stealing my Speed Force is one thing, but how are you hijacking this junk too?
This is too much.
Ultra Psychokinesis is something everyone in the Land of Light knows, though its power varies greatly depending on the individual's mastery. Among the more powerful users are the wielder of the Bracelet, who can use telekinesis to push back a tsunami, and Ultraseven, who can inflict damage on giant monsters with telekinesis even in his human form.
It's just that unless necessary, most of them default to not using telekinesis. It consumes a lot of energy and stamina, and in most cases, it's far less convenient than just throwing a punch.
Orin Vale wasn't a fan of using it either. But not liking it didn't mean he couldn't.
"The Speed Force can also amplify psionic power, manifesting as telekinesis... noted. Another new piece of knowledge to go back and study."
As Orin Vale muttered to himself, his hands were not idle. With a flick of his finger, he activated his telekinesis, and the steel pipes and spears floating in the air were immediately twisted into rope-like bonds, tying Grodd up securely.
Acquiring new knowledge is always fulfilling and pleasant. But even though he was eager to get back and do further research, Orin Vale hadn't forgotten there were other important matters to attend to.
"You've lost. Now, you have two options," Orin Vale said. "Withdraw your army, or we can use more forceful methods, after which you will withdraw your army."
Bound tightly, Grodd spat on the ground.
"Never," Grodd snarled. "Use your worst methods, monster. But glory will always belong to the gorillas, not the inferior humans."
"That's no longer necessary."
The Gorilla Elder walked in, leading a squad of gorillas.
"Your regime is over. Just now, I informed the troops you sent to the human world that your rule has received the verdict of the lightning. They have all surrendered."
"No!"
Grodd roared, lightning erupting from his body.
"You have no right... You can't do this! I was trying to protect our city!"
"As was I," the Gorilla Elder said coldly. "And what you've done has crossed the line. Your self-righteousness will only bring destruction upon Gorilla City, not to mention your rebellion and attempt to execute the Council of Elders. For this, the sentence passed upon you by the Council of Elders is..."
The Gorilla Elder drew his gun and pointed it at Grodd.
"Death."
Grodd stared at the black hole of the muzzle and narrowed his eyes.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Foolish, cowardly kinsmen... If that's what you truly think, then so be it. Do what you must, but you will soon realize what a laughable mistake this is."
The Gorilla Elder frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Do you really think I would formally declare war on the human world without being fully prepared?" Grodd sneered. "I found a kinsman, one who grew up in the human world but had an extraordinary encounter."
"He possesses power far greater than ours but lacks our wisdom."
"I found him, convinced him, and bestowed upon him the power of the lightning. Now, he will be unstoppable!"
"And as we speak, he has already been unleashed upon the human world."
"What are you saying? What have you done?" the Gorilla Elder demanded.
"It wasn't me, but the humans themselves. They create their own demons, and I merely took advantage of it," Grodd said in a low voice. "Humans call him...
"Titano."
(end of chapter )