"Looks like these two youngsters are already somewhat exhausted. This makes it easier for me to reap the benefits..." Madame Gao keenly noticed the tiredness on Johnny and Susan's faces. "However, I still need to figure out who stole the master's power and managed to summon the Shadow Ninja Clan. They are undermining the foundation of the Hand's establishment. Once I resolve this matter and obtain the superpower stone from that youngster, perhaps I could gain the master's favor and become the sole leader of the Hand!"
As Madame Gao spoke, a fanatic gleam shone in her eyes. Dark energy faintly surged around her, somewhat similar to the aura of the Shadow Ninjas, only much more powerful!
"Hmm? What's this?" Robert, who was flying towards Johnny and Susan guided by Clark's navigation, raised his eyebrows as he sensed Madame Gao's powerful aura. Judging by the strength of the aura alone, it had surpassed Kara and was almost on par with Clark and Diana, though slightly weaker than Hulk and Abomination.
However, it was clear that aura alone doesn't represent true combat strength. Otherwise, Abomination and Hulk wouldn't have been easily sent flying by Clark...
"He's here... Huh? No, that's not him..." Exhausted, Johnny looked up at the sky and saw Robert's figure. He instinctively called out, but soon furrowed his brows as Robert looked different from the last time they met.
Indeed, Robert had changed his appearance using a transformation technique before leaving, a requirement to activate Clark's navigation. Thus, Robert had transformed into Goku's appearance – well, Kakarot, not the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
So, when Johnny noticed something off about Robert, he instinctively pulled Susan behind him, watching warily at Robert hovering in the sky.
Johnny wasn't sure if anyone besides Robert could fly, but seeing the unfamiliar appearance of Robert, he chose to be fully prepared.
"Don't worry, it's me," Robert waved his hand and smiled at Johnny.
"How did you change your appearance? No, how can you prove you're really you?" Johnny frowned, his eyes flickering with doubt.
"Um... I saved her life," Robert pondered for a moment and spoke softly, pointing at Susan, "And that day, when I killed the Shadow Ninjas, I barely exerted any effort."
"I knew it!" Johnny breathed a sigh of relief, then muttered discontentedly.
"Is this your real appearance?" Susan blinked in interest at Robert's form.
"Oh, no." Robert didn't engage in much conversation with Susan, casually waving his hand before turning to Johnny, "Give me the Dragon Talisman. Also, you need to leave quickly. It seems someone else has their eyes on you!"
"Someone else is targeting us? I knew those Shadow Ninjas looked different..." Johnny's eyes lit up as he quickly shared his observation, "They became thinner and taller. I thought I was seeing things, but it wasn't an illusion!"
"Buzz!" Before Johnny could finish, new shadows formed around them, transforming into beings known as Shadow Blades, thinner and taller than the Shadow Ninjas, with claw-like blades in their hands and spike-like feet, somewhat reminiscent of Green Steel Shadow's scissor legs.
Madame Gao, observing from afar, was startled when she saw Robert appear in her line of sight. She hadn't seen Robert flying in, but she did see him jump down in front of Johnny and start talking to them.
Therefore, to prevent any unforeseen events, Madame Gao decisively commanded the Shadow Blades to test Robert's capabilities.
"Can't hold back, can you?" Robert glanced at the surrounding Shadow Blades with little interest. With a powerful being nearby, he wasn't keen on dealing with a bunch of non-living minions.
"Keep the Dragon Talisman with you. Be careful, and I'll see how formidable the person targeting you is. Remember not to get too close!" Robert turned to Johnny with a warning, then swiftly moved towards Madame Gao's location.
"Puff!"
"Puff!"
"Puff!"
As Robert advanced, his aura erupted, scattering the nearby Shadow Blades, which dissolved into black mist and vanished.
"Hmm?!" Madame Gao felt the powerful aura bursting from Robert. Before she could react, Robert had already appeared in front of her, scrutinizing her. Madame Gao's pupils shrank slightly, a hint of fear flickering in her eyes as she faced Robert.
"Who are you?" Madame Gao gripped her cane tightly, watching Robert warily.
"Old lady?" Robert raised his eyebrows at Madame Gao. He couldn't sense any frailty from her aura or expression, understanding that she, like Master Roshi, appeared old but was actually a powerful fighter.
"Old lady? Young man, you're quite disrespectful..." Madame Gao's eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke kindly, then suddenly, her cane thrust forward in a sneak attack, aiming for Robert's eyes.
"Whoosh!" However, Robert's reflexes were much quicker than Madame Gao expected. He tilted his head, dodging the thrust, and with a swift movement, swung his fist towards her.
"Hmm?!" Madame Gao was startled, her cane switching to strike Robert's head while her other hand met his fist, attempting to neutralize his power.
"Bang!" Unfortunately for her, her technique failed to counter Robert's immense strength, and she was sent flying, her cane's attack rendered ineffective.
"It's not easy!" Robert didn't immediately pursue Madame Gao, instead muttering to himself somewhat sentimentally, "This is the first time since I came to this world that I've met someone whose displayed aura and actual defensive power are so closely matched!"
In this world where aura couldn't accurately predict combat strength, Robert's aura perception had become merely a tool to detect enemy locations, losing its ability to estimate their strength. Kara's aura was now surpassed by Robert, but her speed, strength, and defense were still stronger than his.
Madame Gao was the first person Robert had encountered whose aura and actual strength were not vastly different.
"Snap!" Meanwhile, Madame Gao flipped in mid-air, landing and retreating several steps to dissipate the force of Robert's punch, watching him warily. But just then, Robert vanished from her sight...
"Whoosh!" The next moment, Robert's afterimage appeared, and Madame Gao's pupils contracted slightly, her cane instinctively thrusting forward again.
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