Their super speed allowed them to sprint across the sea surface as if it were flat land, dragging a massive, dozen-meter-high curtain of Water behind them.
Makkari felt the silver lightning behind her drawing closer, the distance between them constantly shrinking.
Sersi, on her back, also sensed the pursuer behind them.
Sersi focused her mind and activated her matter manipulation ability, her fingertips touching the churning waves.
The curtain of Water behind Makkari was instantly transformed into a massive wall of ice, spanning across the sea surface in an attempt to block Pietro's path.
She hoped to use this method to create an obstacle for Pietro and slow him down.
However, having undergone secondary evolution via Compound V, Pietro was no longer that fragile speedster who relied solely on speed.
Pietro showed no intention of slowing down; instead, he braced his head and slammed straight into it.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Like an armor-piercing shell fired from a chamber, Pietro smashed through one sturdy ice wall after another with overwhelming force.
Shards of ice flew everywhere, glistening under the refraction of the sunlight.
Makkari also realized that ordinary means could not stop him.
She had no choice but to push herself to the limit and continue sprinting forward.
By now, she had run into the dense, primitive forests of Alaska, and once out of this forest, she would reach the ice fields.
Just as she was about to dash out of the forest.
At the very last moment, Pietro finally burst forth with his ultimate speed and overtook her.
With a lateral drift, he forced his way in front of Makkari.
Makkari was forced to hit the emergency brakes.
"This road is closed, ladies." Pietro brushed the fine ice shards off his body, a smug smile hanging on his lips.
Makkari knew she wouldn't be able to escape today without dealing with this silver kid.
She tapped Sersi on her back and signaled with sign language: [You go first, keep heading north in this direction. I will stop this speedster.]
Sersi gave Pietro a worried look, then nodded at Makkari: "Be careful, Makkari."
With that, Sersi didn't linger and turned to run deep into the forest.
"Hey, who gave you permission to leave?"
Seeing this, Pietro flickered, intending to bypass Makkari to intercept Sersi.
But Makkari was already prepared; he had barely taken a step.
"Bang!"
Makkari had already charged up like an arrow released from a bow, slamming hard into Pietro and knocking him back several steps.
Without Sersi as a burden, Makkari's speed and agility had both significantly improved.
Pietro steadied himself, looking at Makkari, who was blocking his path in a combat stance, and wiped the levity from his face.
"Looks like I have to deal with you first." Pietro flexed his wrists.
The next second.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Two figures, one gold and one silver, vanished from the spot simultaneously.
"Papapapapa!"
The sound of dense collisions rang out throughout the forest.
...
Alaska, Beichuan Ice Fields.
The massive impact from Ikaris's fall just moments ago had shattered a large chunk of the ice layer, which was already half-melted.
"Crack... crack..."
A sudden, strange noise came from beneath the ice layer.
Homelander looked down slightly.
Ice-cold Water mixed with broken ice surged upward.
A Deviant, covered in sharp teeth, with dark muscle fibers intertwined like vines and looking like a berserk beast, leapt out of the ice hole.
It shook the broken ice off its body and let out a low, hoarse roar.
But the next moment, it seemed to sense something, and its gaze immediately locked onto Ikaris, who was writhing in pain while clutching his eyes.
For the Deviant, the Universe energy within the Eternal was the most deadly temptation.
"Hiss—!"
The Deviant immediately leapt over, pinning Ikaris down with its massive body, and several incredibly sharp tentacles pierced down like long needles.
"Puchi! Puchi!"
A scene that slightly surprised Homelander unfolded.
The Eternal uniform, which hadn't been broken even after enduring dozens of his punches just moments ago.
Was actually pierced effortlessly by the Deviant's tentacles.
"Interesting..."
Homelander watched this scene thoughtfully.
"It seems this Deviant has a natural suppressive effect on the Universe energy unique to the Celestials."
These Deviants could absorb Universe energy homologous to the Celestials to evolve.
If the Deviants were allowed to develop, they would sooner or later evolve to the point of being able to devour a God.
The Celestials creating the Eternal to eliminate the Deviant might not just be for protecting the reproduction of so-called intelligent life.
It seemed more like a massive purge aimed at cleaning up biological weapons that had gone out of control.
"If that's the case..." Having sorted out the logic, Homelander smiled coldly.
"Then studying the characteristics of these Deviants in depth might yield unexpected results against those six-eyed flying fish who will come to brawl at some unknown time."
But for now, the professional Homelander had to finish this livestream first.
"Dear viewers, look at this dramatic scene." Homelander said with a sigh.
"He traveled all this way to release these monsters, and the first thing the monsters did upon waking up was treat him as a delicious meal."
"This is what you call reaping what you sow, getting exactly what he deserves."
The comments section was immediately flooded with remarks like "He deserved it," "Evil meets its retribution," and "So satisfying."
Just as Ikaris was being drained by the Deviant until his aura was weak.
Sersi's stumbling figure rushed out from the dense forest.
She saw at a glance Ikaris being pinned to the ground and ferociously attacked by the Deviant.
In her desperation, without the slightest hesitation, she slammed both hands onto the ground.
Her matter manipulation ability was pushed to its limit.
"Whoosh—"
The transformation spread rapidly from under Sersi's palms to beneath the Deviant's feet; under the effect of her matter manipulation ability, everything liquefied into flowing Water.
The Deviant's body lost its support and fell directly into the Water, sinking downwards.
The tentacles that had been pierced into Ikaris's body were also pulled out.
The Deviant, having fallen into the Water, frantically waved its tentacles, trying to climb back up.
Sersi clenched her hands, reversing her ability.
The seawater that had just turned into liquid instantly froze back into extremely cold, solid ice.
Ikaris lay weakly on the ice, the hollowness in his eyes still shocking to behold.
Sersi hurriedly ran forward, knelt on the ice, and pulled Ikaris into her arms.
"Ikaris... are you okay?" Sersi looked into his hollow eyes, her own filled with heartache.
Hearing Sersi's voice, Ikaris's already haggard face became even more pained.
He reached out a trembling hand, trying to caress Sersi's cheek.
Homelander slowly descended from mid-air, stopping a few meters away from them.
He didn't interrupt this bitter reunion drama, but instead professionally held up his phone, quietly watching the show with the viewers in the livestream.
"Why?"
Sersi asked, holding Ikaris's hand.
"We were in love for five thousand years, Ikaris. We were once so happy."
"Why did you leave without a word? Why did you become so like a stranger when you returned?"
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