Chapter 116: The Drawbacks of Transcendence, Steppenwolf
A fierce wind swept across the ground, lifting dust and debris into violent spirals.
At the heart of the alien base, nearly everything had been obliterated by the tidal energy wave. The earth itself had been pushed down a meter or two.
In the low sky.
Even the three awakened Mother Boxes trembled, wary of the intruder. White arcs of electricity crackled around them as they accelerated the unification process into a Trinity.
Whoosh!
Debris swirled violently again as the figure, radiant like a sun, descended. Xi Nian, his dark cloak billowing behind him, strode toward the three Mother Boxes.
Steppenwolf, sensing the intruder nearing the boxes, bellowed,
"Do not! Do not take another step forward!"
Like an old, desperate wolf, his steel-scaled armor bristling, he lifted his massive axe and charged at Transcendent Xi Nian without hesitation.
The axe had been gifted by his Dark Lord master, having torn through countless powerful alien bodies, stained with the crimson blood of numerous Amazon warriors. Its presence alone sent shivers of fear down the spine.
At that moment, the axe blade slashed down like the claw of a desperate wolf, golden electricity sparking along its edge. Air and space itself seemed split in two.
This was Steppenwolf's strongest, most reckless attack.
Too slow.
Xi Nian shook his head slightly, almost disappointed. Swiftly, he raised his right hand.
Clang!
The clash of metal and flesh rang out like iron against gold. The violent gust swept back Xi Nian's silver hair and dark cloak.
Steppenwolf's eyes widened in disbelief. The axe, infused with all his power and golden energy, was held firmly in Xi Nian's hand.
It was a hand stronger than any force Steppenwolf could muster.
"Kryptonian… impossible…" he muttered, bloodshot eyes gripping the axe tightly. No matter how hard he pushed or pulled, the weapon remained unmoved.
Xi Nian, still holding the axe, lifted off the ground.
He hovered slowly, silver hair and cloak wildly flowing, about two meters above Steppenwolf. He began pressing the axe downward with tremendous force.
Not just the axe's power, but the divine energy and biofield pressing like a tangible weight onto Steppenwolf.
Steppenwolf shuddered violently, knees buckling. His armored scales creaked and cracked. With a heavy thud, he fell to his knees, breaking the ground beneath him.
The humiliation made him tremble in terror. He had only felt such overwhelming power from the Dark Lord himself.
Before him, in the low sky, Xi Nian glowed like a rising sun. White lightning crackled across his form, golden energy rippling outward.
Then—
Xi Nian coughed lightly, a streak of crimson blood escaping his mouth. The blood crackled with energy, sparking lightning that ravaged the ground.
Steppenwolf froze.
Impossible.
This cosmic-level being was bleeding.
Xi Nian's brow furrowed slightly. At that moment, he felt as if a thread deep inside him had snapped.
Had he consumed too much energy during the battle and pursuit?
No.
Xi Nian's super-computer-like brain scanned his body inside and out. The answer was astonishing.
It was not energy depletion. His body had absorbed too much energy.
Currently, Xi Nian's energy exceeded even what he had when first entering Transcendent Mode by 10–20 percent.
The absorption rate of solar energy outpaced his consumption.
It sounded good, like a perpetual motion machine.
But excess energy unsettled his body's perfect balance.
This was why he was coughing blood—like a human with too much vitality.
It meant one thing: once in Transcendent Mode, Xi Nian was a being born for battle. He needed continuous high-intensity combat. Every second mattered.
Otherwise, his body could explode from solar overload.
Earlier, Superman had barely managed to cope.
Now, after flying here, Xi Nian had expended almost no energy.
And Steppenwolf? He was no match for the accumulated energy Xi Nian carried.
Xi Nian's mind raced. The plan was clear: resolve the Mother Box crisis quickly, then move to a place without solar energy.
He immediately thought of Xiao Huang's Devouring Space.
It was accessible anytime, free of solar energy, and wouldn't damage the environment—a perfect refuge.
Xi Nian wiped the blood from his mouth.
At that moment, Steppenwolf, sensing a fleeting opportunity, sprang.
Kneeling, he released his grip on the axe. Golden sparks crackled over his armored body as he lunged toward Xi Nian.
Even at the cost of his life, he would buy time for the Trinity to complete.
His eyes blazed. In this final moment, he made his choice: to defend the Mother Boxes at any cost.
And then—there was no next.
Steppenwolf's motion froze. His gaze dropped, a hand shattering his chest armor as divine energy and force coursed through him. His fist tore out from the back of his armor.
No blood fell.
It was vaporized by the intense heat.
The axe fell beside him, lodging crookedly in the soil.
"My lord…"
Steppenwolf muttered, eyes filled with regret, nostalgia, and acceptance. A hole burned through his chest. His body and armor fell lifelessly.
"This is my strongest strike yet," Xi Nian whispered, looking at the fallen Steppenwolf.
He flew over the corpse, landing directly in front of the three Mother Boxes. Hands on either side, he pressed inward.
He did not try to separate them. Instead, he used all his strength and energy to compress them.
Xi Nian's eyes blazed pure white. Like a Kryptonian god, he pressed with all his might, trying to crush all three Mother Boxes together.
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