"Even if you burn your very life, is this really the extent of your power?"
Arms crossed over his chest, Lothar tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging Shafrin's attack. His pitch-black pupils gleamed with growing excitement, though his lips continued to prod at Shafrin's sensitive nerves.
"At this level, you still fail to intrigue me."
"Aaaaaahhh!!!"
Blood ignited, nerves aflame, a torrential surge of energy roared to life once more. Shafrin's muscles withered visibly, sacrificed in exchange for an explosion of force so immense that it sent The Other—who had been cowering on the ground—hurtling away.
"As you wish, Lothar."
Rubbing his wrist, Shafrin's blood-red form flickered, materializing in front of Lothar in an instant. Both hands surged with an ocean of crimson energy, crashing toward Lothar's chest with unstoppable momentum!
Faced with Shafrin's renewed assault, Lothar could no longer suppress the primal thrill surging within him. At last, he released his hands.
BOOM!!!!
Fist met palm, and the sheer force of the impact shattered the ground beneath them. Shafrin's body was sent flying back at an even greater speed than before!
"Still not enough."
Lothar's eyes gleamed with exhilaration as he lowered his fist. "Your power… it's far from reaching its limit."
He could sense it clearly. Shafrin had yet to unleash his full potential—or rather, he had yet to ascend to the pinnacle of his strength.
"Now, continue."
Gazing at the figure he had sent crashing into the ruins, Lothar raised his right hand in an arrogant beckon, signaling for the fight to go on.
"Pffft!"
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Shafrin barely had time to wipe his lips before a crimson storm erupted behind him. A monstrous, grotesque figure took form from the raging energy, rushing forth in tandem with him toward the waiting Lothar.
"If that's all you've got—"
Lothar smirked, the energy in his right palm condensing in an instant. A silver-white beam of light pierced through the crimson specter behind Shafrin. The next second, Lothar vanished, reappearing right in front of him!
"—then this is the end."
His punch struck Shafrin's unguarded abdomen, sending him rocketing toward the darkened sky. A cruel smile curled Lothar's lips as he followed up with a devastating kick.
THOOM!
Lothar's figure blurred, appearing above Shafrin before he could even react. Fingers laced together, he slammed his fists down onto Shafrin's midsection!
...Huh?
Lothar's expression froze. His fists had struck nothing but air.
"Die!"
Shafrin's voice bellowed from behind him, his fist driving toward the back of Lothar's skull!
The sharp whistle of displaced air triggered Lothar's instincts. He spun, countering Shafrin's relentless assault. With each passing moment, the flames of Shafrin's life force burned hotter, the power left by the Mind Stone within him reaching its apex!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The shockwaves of their battle rattled the planet. The Other, having crawled to a safer spot, trembled in absolute terror.
"T-This… this is impossible…"
"This level of power…?!"
The Other couldn't even see their movements anymore.
All he could perceive was the utter devastation of Planet U40, the endless cacophony of explosions echoing through the air.
Swallowing hard, The Other clutched his scepter tightly, a wave of admiration surging within him. Today, Lothar had demonstrated unparalleled dominance. Following such a master… no, following such a force of nature, would surely lead the Chitauri to a glorious future!
Go, Prince Lothar!
Still shivering in his corner, The Other indulged in his hopeful fantasies—until a blood-red figure crashed down in front of him from the skies.
The expression on The Other's face froze instantly.
Before he could react, Shafrin seized him and hurled him at Lothar as a living projectile.
?????!!!!!!
The Other's panicked screams were abruptly cut short.
Lothar caught him mid-air with one hand, his expression as cold as ever.
"Prince Lothar!"
The Other's eyes sparkled with joy as he looked up at his master.
"You're in my way."
Lothar barely spared him a glance before tossing him aside like trash. The action was far from gentle, but in The Other's mind, it was nothing short of a miracle.
Prince Lothar saved me!!!
Prince Lothar saved me!!!
The Other sprang to his feet, clutching his scepter with giddy excitement.
"Enough. I've seen your limit. This ends now."
Oblivious to the awe-struck reverence of his subordinate, Lothar turned his attention back to Shafrin, who was now kneeling, gasping for breath. Shaking his head, Lothar decided he had played long enough.
Shafrin's so-called "star-shattering" power had been a disappointment. Despite all his boasting, he couldn't even break through U40's planetary crust.
"How convenient. I was thinking the same thing."
Shafrin exhaled sharply, his chest cavity expanding like a bellows. He had stalled just long enough—enough time to fully synchronize with the core of Planet U40.
The power of the Mind Stone coalesced into golden-red armor, encasing his body in an instant. A black-and-white striped mask covered his face, and his vibrant crimson cape billowed wildly in the storm.
VWOOM!
A terrifying energy surged from Shafrin, colliding with Lothar's overwhelming aura.
"Under the power to shatter a star, perish!!!"
Planting his feet firmly, left hand raised and right hand clenched into a fist, Shafrin roared as he unleashed his final strike!
A crimson energy beam, imbued with his very life force, shot forth toward the unflinching Lothar!
"The final act."
Lothar's expression remained unchanged as he raised his right hand. A torrent of silver energy converged in his palm before erupting forward!
BOOM!!!!!!!
Scarlet and silver beams clashed, the ensuing shockwave sending tremors through the entire planet!
"Prince Lothar! Prince Lothar! Huh?!"
The Other, caught in the explosion's wake, was flung skyward just as a volcanic eruption sent a geyser of molten rock into the air!
With a flick of his wrist, Lothar summoned the Casket of Ancient Winters, freezing the eruption instantly. The Other, now frantically dodging debris, struggled to survive the planetary catastrophe.
"It's useless! I am backed by the very core of U40!" Shafrin bellowed, drawing endless energy from the planetary heart. Ignoring his ruptured veins, he pushed his power even further.
"I am the god of U40!!!"
The planetary core, as if responding to its new master, unleashed its full potential. A vast, boundless force flooded into Shafrin's body!
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!"
His crimson beam intensified, overwhelming Lothar's silver light!
"A god? You?"
Lothar sneered. His left hand joined the fray, pouring even more energy into his attack. The silver beam surged back, devouring the crimson light!
"Impossible!!!!"
Shafrin's body, bloated with unstable star core energy, exploded into nothingness under Lothar's final strike. The U40 core, its defenses undone, was pierced through in the very next instant.
BOOOOOOM!!!!!!
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