In the vision.
Auran's forehead, though healed, still bore obvious scars. Clearly, that fatal wound had nearly exhausted her regenerative powers.
After she secretly got up, she naturally ambushed Karnak.
Karnak, relying on his sharp perception, avoided a lethal strike just in time.
The two immediately clashed, both ending up grievously injured.
Karnak's already damaged head took another blow, and Auran fled, also wounded.
But the matter did not end there.
The vision continued.
The next image showed Karnak attempting to heal his wounds, when a small truck drove into the marijuana field.
From it emerged four burly, armed thugs—likely those who had come to collect the harvest Reno and his group had been cultivating.
Seeing Reno's half-buried corpse, they immediately opened fire on Karnak.
Karnak had no way to dodge a hail of bullets, especially with his head injured once again.
And so.
He was quickly overwhelmed, captured, and hung upside down from a tree, tortured cruelly.
Under torture.
All Karnak did was cry out, "Black Bolt!" "My king!"—nonsense the thugs couldn't understand, until finally he was beaten to death.
"Too much!" Crystal's eyes widened, furious at the bandits' actions.
Blackagar Boltagon's eyes filled with rage, every cry of "Black Bolt" from Karnak's final moments stabbing his heart.
This was his loyal retainer! His brother-in-arms! ...Er... though only a cousin, he was still dearly beloved!
No matter Black Bolt's grief.
Ye Li calmly observed, then said to the princess, "A lot of the marijuana has already been packed, but much remains. Those four will surely drive back here again."
"Mm."
Crystal clenched her little fists angrily. "When they return, let me deal with them!"
Vrrrm...
As if on cue, the sound of a truck engine came, a small truck slowly rolling in.
"They really dare to come back!"
Crystal raised her fingers skyward, blue magic circles forming at her tips, calling upon the heavens. Clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, and bolts of lightning struck down in an instant!
Though her powers were mastery over earth, water, wind, and fire, by manipulating water and wind, she could also generate lightning.
Boom!
Boom!!
Explosions roared. Before the thugs could even exit the truck, it was engulfed in flames.
"Die!"
Black Bolt stepped forward. With his lips barely parting, a single word left his mouth. His voice unleashed a devastating shockwave, reducing the wreckage and everyone inside to pure ash—without a trace left behind.
Ye Li narrowed his eyes at Black Bolt's finishing move: 'That power really is terrifying... No wonder he nearly screamed the skin off Sentry...'
"It's done."
The little princess happily pumped her small fist. "Let's go back to the Moon now and deal with Maximus!"
Medusa frowned lightly. "Just the few of us?"
Blackagar glanced around and realized he was now utterly alone—his former companions Triton, Gorgon, and Karnak were all gone....
Meanwhile, the princess and the queen stood beside Ye Li, looking more like his companions than Black Bolt's....
"I think it's fine. Let's go."
Ye Li was utterly calm. Even if he didn't lend a hand, as long as Black Bolt decided to use his full power, crushing the traitorous weaklings of Attilan would be simple.
It was no exaggeration—Black Bolt alone could wipe out all of Attilan.
The only reason he fled to Earth was because he didn't want to kill his brother and his people.
It was a situation much like Thor and Loki.
But with Triton, Gorgon, and Karnak all slain by Maximus, Blackagar Boltagon's mindset might change this time. He might no longer spare his brother.
…..
The Moon.
Attilan.
Within a secret chamber.
Auran had already returned via Eldrac's teleportation and was reporting the Earth battle to Maximus.
"So, Gorgon and Triton are dead?"
Maximus laughed, nodding with satisfaction. "Well done, Auran. Go heal and rest."
"Yes." Auran bowed and withdrew.
Once she was gone.
Maximus remained alone in the chamber, his face growing grim.
"So only those two nobodies died? My brother is still alive and well. All the assassins I sent were wiped out... Even Lockjaw seems to have been cured...."
He was starting to panic.
If Black Bolt returned to Attilan in fury, he couldn't be sure whether his brother would finally strike to kill....
"I must establish my advantage!"
Maximus' eyes glinted coldly as he strode from the chamber, ordering his subordinates, "Summon the citizens! Bring Gorgon to the central hall as well."
He would pin the deaths of Triton, Gorgon, and the others he had sent on Black Bolt, and fan the flames of public opinion!