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The battle between Ivan and Thanos reached a high state. They abandoned their rules and abilities for the first time, opting for pure power. Ivan, who absorbed simulated energy year-round, bolstering his Protoss-enhanced body, initially matched Thanos in strength. However, Thanos' size advantage allowed him to dominate, slamming Ivan repeatedly.
Adapting swiftly, Ivan altered his combat style. Just before Thanos' second attack, he halted his retreat. Ivan maneuvered through Thanos' side, leveraging his small stature and unparalleled agility, delivering a series of powerful fist attacks.
Thanos defended with remarkable speed, blocking three consecutive punches with his arm. Despite the defense, the intense pain made him frown. Thanos retaliated with a loud shout, seizing Ivan's fist with his massive palm. The forceful grab sent a tingling sensation across Ivan's face.
Unable to withdraw his fist, Ivan gritted his teeth and advanced, his fist swelling as he shouted, "Cannon Fist," striking Thanos' palm.
The powerful Thanos, usually able to withstand starship main guns, was injured by Ivan's punch, rendering his arm unable to catch Ivan. As Ivan tried to retreat, Thanos swiftly reacted, grabbing Ivan's wrist and slamming him hard to the ground, creating a bottomless pit.
Ivan felt scattered and understood the danger of lying still in battle. He endured the pain, rolled in the pit, and jumped up, narrowly avoiding Thanos' incoming blow.
Ivan, initially careless, was attacked by Thanos and sustained injuries. However, after seeing Thanos nursing his injured arm, Ivan found amusement. Both combatants were in a similar state.
Thanos twisted his injured arm back into place, occasionally squeezing it to alleviate the pain. Seizing the opportunity, Ivan moved, turning his body, each joint emitting clicking sounds. He quickly recovered, and the first exchange ended in a draw.
"You're formidable, the second person to physically resist me," remarked Thanos as the pain in his arm subsided.
"The second one! Who was the first? Oh! Shouldn't it be Darkseid!"
Surprised, Thanos replied, "I didn't expect you to know Darkseid. He's different from me, transforming conquered planets directly. Life becomes known as a demon due to his destructive rule. He mainly resides on Apocalypse, and little is known about him."
"Have you fought him? Unsure if you can beat him?" Ivan asked eagerly.
Thanos recognized Ivan's strength: "We fought once, but neither emerged as the clear winner. Strength-wise, we are evenly matched, and continuing would only result in us losing."
"Darkseid! I'd love to see the style of this dark king. By the way, you both are bald and tall." Ivan's last sentence was meant as a playful tease.
Thanos' expression darkened, and he angrily exclaimed, "I have nothing to do with that bastard! Stop talking nonsense, and let's continue our battle!"
Without warning, Thanos sprinted forward, leaped high, and aimed a mighty right fist at Ivan.
Ivan noticed a faint layer of black and red shimmer on Thanos' fist, a sign of the power of destruction. Apocalypse had warned him that a distinct vision would accompany him when Thanos unleashed this power. He quickly crossed his arms to meet the incoming fist.
Boom! This time, Ivan didn't resist forcefully but activated his energy absorption ability. The power of destruction from Thanos was absorbed, but Ivan's complexion changed rapidly. The destructive force within began to harm his cells, a pure attribute power that disrupted their activity. Unlike before, he couldn't convert this energy for his use.
Without hesitation, Ivan clamped Thanos' wrist with his staggered arms, merged his strength with the kinetic energy absorbed from Thanos' fist, and forcefully threw Thanos away. As he shook his hand, the black and red energy was expelled, landing on a small mountain peak and incinerating it, leaving only a trace of dust in its wake.
Despite expelling the power of destruction from his body, some cells were damaged and needed repair. However, Thanos didn't grant Ivan the time to recover. Immediately after being thrown, Thanos stabilized and launched another attack.
Gritting his teeth, Ivan refrained from using the energy absorption ability this time and retaliated with a punch.
Boom! The shockwave shook the planet as the two men stepped back simultaneously. Ivan's fist directly confronted the force of destruction on Thanos's fist, yet it endured without impact. A careful observer would notice a nearly transparent strange energy layer on Ivan's fist.
The power that could resist the force of rules was the power of rules. Due to the extreme development of his brain, Ivan's advanced understanding of the rules allowed him to comprehend the nature of all things in the universe, embarking on the path of omniscience and omnipotence.
Having grasped most types of the power of rules in the universe, Ivan faced difficulty choosing. Ultimately, he integrated all the power of rules, forming his unique power called the "rule of chaos." It was easy to improve the rule of chaos, given its fusion of various rules. Any progress in individual rules enhanced the rule of chaos, though there seemed to be no end unless all rules were comprehended, a nearly impossible feat.
Apocalypse also pursued the fusion of various rules, benefiting from countless mutants providing him with rule fragments. However, his passive fusion needed the depth of Ivan's comprehension, leading to potential flaws. This was evident in his losses to both Thanos and Ivan.
The chaotic rules offered numerous advantages, a fusion of various laws that made them challenging to target or restrain. Ivan, however, had a cunning method—fully unleashing brain evolution. Initially injected with cph4, he could transform into a being like Lucy from "Lucy," yet Ivan resisted the transformation, unwilling to sacrifice his emotions and continuing suppressing his brain's development.
The onslaught persisted despite Thanos' surprise at Ivan effortlessly blocking the power of destruction. With a black and red power of destruction, Thanos pressed it against Ivan's forehead.
Ivan's translucent, chaotic power enveloped his hand. With each wave, ripples stirred the air, showcasing a variety of intricate moves. Recognizing his physical disadvantage, Ivan employed a strategy of using force from a standing position. His precise maneuvers made Thanos' punches feel like hitting cotton, frustrating the mighty titan.
Boom, boom, boom! The aftermath of the battle between Thanos and Ivan rippled across the planet, creating an apocalyptic scene. Meanwhile, two spaceships floated in the air. Apocalypse, Shaw, Borgin, and Stakar felt a growing tension within the spacecraft. Shaw, particularly restless, paced back and forth, occasionally resting under the persuasion of others. The tension heightened as the clock stood up again.
"Are we just going to watch? Can't we help at all? Doesn't the main gun on this spacecraft be able to penetrate a planet? Maybe we can find a chance to take a shot at Thanos?" Shaw proposed.
"No!" Apocalypse firmly rejected Shaw's suggestion. "We can't see the situation below, and we can't lock onto the tyrant. Even if we could, do you think the naval guns on the spaceship can kill him? At best, they might cause some damage. What if they provoke him, making Thanos desperate and leading to Ivan's demise? The most dangerous Thanos is the most unpredictable. Sometimes, not helping is the wisest choice."
Shaw, dejected, sat back down. He knew he had let his emotions get the better of him, but his concern for his son overshadowed rational thinking. Despite Ivan's strength, facing a super overlord like Thanos brought uncertainty.
In another spaceship, the Generals debated. Corvus Glaive suggested besieging the Shadow Servant Corps while his father, Thanos, battled. Proxima Midnight and Black Dwarf agreed, but Ebony Maw showed indifference, expressing contempt for Corvus. The ensuing tension nearly led to a conflict.
Ebony Maw intervened, explaining, "Eliminating the Shadow Mercenary Group with our fleet is feasible, but how do you plan to handle the four giants, especially Apocalypse? If a fight ensues, can you endure it? Even if we eliminate the Black Shadow Mercenary Group, the Big Four may wipe most of us out. Of course, if you're willing to divert Apocalypse away, we can try it."
Corvus quickly shook his head, realizing the immense strength of Apocalypse. It would be a formidable task even if Thanos attempted to defeat him. Engaging with Apocalypse would likely result in defeat, and he wisely stepped aside.