The world went silent. For a heartbeat, even the wind stopped.
The attack moved faster than light, a streak of absolute annihilation aimed directly at Rex's sternum.
But Rex didn't flinch. He didn't dodge.
He didn't even raise his hands to guard. He simply stood his ground, his eyes locked onto Theo's with a cold, terrifying clarity.
His adaptation had reached its limit. He knew exactly what this move was.
He knew its speed, its mass, and its temporal signature.
As the fist of annihilation drew within an inch of his chest, Rex moved.
It wasn't a blur; it was a statement of absolute dominance. With precise, economical motion, Rex raised his left hand.
CLANG.
The sound wasn't a crash or an explosion; it was the sound of two immovable objects meeting. Rex's palm met Theo's glowing fist mid-strike, catching the full force of the oblivion strike with impossible ease.
