"This..." Tony Stark hesitated upon hearing Black Widow Natasha's words, glancing at Hawkeye Barton, Steve, and Bucky, who indeed seemed to be struggling in the fight.
Hawkeye Barton was overwhelmed due to the sheer number of enemies; his arrows were almost depleted. In close combat, he was slightly inferior to the bizarre statue army and super soldiers, resorting to dodging and parrying after a few collisions…
As for Steve and Bucky, they weren't much stronger. The super soldiers here were slightly inferior to those with metal arm enhancements. Normally, dealing with a few wouldn't be a problem for them.
However, both Steve and Bucky had arrived already injured, and now faced even more enemies. Even they seemed stretched thin, struggling to keep up…
At this time, Valmont was growing impatient, but still did not intervene, silently observing each battleground, indifferent to the continuous loss of super soldiers, the statue army, and animal warriors.
Valmont was oblivious to the subtle changes in his temperament and behavior. Previously, he would either join the mouse charm-created Superman in battling Robert, or use his eleven charms to obliterate Tony Stark and the others, not merely a bystander.
In a secluded chamber unnoticed by others, the Holy Master's coiled dragon statue slowly opened its eyes, red light flickering within, staring at Valmont's location with a crooked mouth, appearing somewhat smug...
The True Crooked-Mouth Dragon King!
"Retreat!" After observing the battlefield, Tony Stark decisively made the call. Unaware of Steve and Bucky's identities, even though Steve wielded the Captain America shield, Stark hadn't considered this possibility.
Still, Stark notified Steve and Bucky, not only because they had fought side by side but also because they obviously came with Robert. Not knowing their status but unwilling to abandon them, he initiated the retreat…
"Hm? Trying to leave?" Ah fu reacted first to Tony Stark's words, changing his attack method. He started hurling broken statue fragments at Tony Stark. The stones flew faster and with more destructive force than bullets, causing Stark to dodge frantically.
"Boss, they're trying to escape!" While attacking Tony Stark and the others, Ah fu shouted loudly towards Valmont, trying to remind him to take action personally.
After all, Ah fu knew Valmont's strength after acquiring the charms. If Valmont intervened, Tony Stark and his team wouldn't stand a chance!
"Hm?" At this moment, Valmont, upon hearing Ah fu's words, snapped out of his daze. His eyes flashed with confusion, and he immediately turned his attention to Tony Stark and the others, finally preparing to act.
"Rumble!"
But just then, explosions echoed near the base. Tony Stark ordered three mechs to lift Steve and his team, followed by other mechs unleashing a powerful shockwave combination attack!
Tony Stark reasoned that since a single suit of armor had limited firepower, why not use ten or a hundred? Their combined power could achieve a similar effect!
At least for this attack, the strategy was effective, suppressing the entire base and its enemies, including Valmont who was initially ready to intervene.
"Go! Let's leave this place!" Tony Stark yelled to Natasha in the jet, controlling his armor to escape with Steve's group.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Moments later, as the dust settled in the base, Ah fu coughed awkwardly. He had to admit, when Tony Stark's armors unleashed their full destructive power, it was terrifying. If he hadn't reacted quickly, he might have been severely injured by the energy shockwaves.
Many super soldiers had died, and even more animal warriors had self-destructed due to their injuries.
Even the statue army, which could move despite missing limbs, was significantly damaged. Overall, Valmont's forces had suffered heavy losses.
Of course, Tony Stark's armors had almost exhausted their energy in this attack. And with Valmont still not engaging, Stark's team couldn't afford to stay and celebrate their victory.
"Boss?" At this point, Ah fu noticed something off about Valmont. Today's behavior starkly contrasted with Valmont's usual cautious and decisive nature, resulting in such heavy losses.
Though it's traditional for bosses to stay back while underlings fight to death, Valmont wasn't one to watch his men die without care. These were talents he had cultivated!
Valmont was already upset and distressed about losing charms earlier. Now, with so many specially trained animal warriors and super soldiers lost, his indifference was highly unusual…
"Don't speak!" Valmont abruptly interrupted Ah fu, frowning deeply and sensing something amiss. He too felt something odd, as if some barrier prevented him from perceiving it clearly.
It was like being trapped in a dream, vaguely aware but unable to fully realize it, puzzled by his actions yet unable to control them...
"You all retreat!" However, Valmont had a suspicion. He ordered Ah fu, "Move all the experimental tools and data to the backup base…"
"Boss, what about you?" Ah fu hesitated, looking uncertainly at Valmont.
"I need to confirm something! Go!" Valmont took a deep breath, looking seriously towards the Holy Master's chamber. He suspected the Holy Master was meddling. Wanting to investigate, Valmont felt his body oddly unresponsive, unwilling to move towards the chamber.
"Heh, a mere human coveting my power? The longer you hold my charm, the deeper my control over you. If only the last charm had returned, soon your body would be completely under my control!" The Holy Master gazed greedily at Valmont's body, speaking disdainfully.
In the chamber, the Holy Master's coiled dragon statue had fully awakened, not even bothering to hide. Everything was under his control, and soon Valmont's body would be his entirely!
"Pity, you noticed too late! Your ploy using the monkey charm to lure me was clever. Had you used the mouse charm, I might not have resisted!" The Holy Master, mocking Valmont who tried to approach yet couldn't control his body, suddenly stiffened, looking towards the base's exterior.
"Hm?! The mouse charm? What's happening? That kid is that powerful? Even that guy can't beat him?!"
"Hm?" Simultaneously, Valmont also looked outside. Before he could react, a figure flew out, crashing heavily onto the ground, smashing through the base's hard surface. This figure was the Superman empowered by the mouse charm, thoroughly defeated by Robert in his Giant Ape·Rage state.
"Awesome!" Robert followed, sending Superman flying with a punch. It had been a while since he had such an exhilarating fight, physically liberating and mentally freeing. The bootleg Superman was perfect!
"Lost? Impossible!" Valmont, watching the bootleg Superman struggle out from the ground, his Superman suit tattered, was shocked as he recognized Robert, despite his changed appearance.
"Too bad, your regret was misplaced." Robert, seeing Valmont's bewildered look, smiled and shrugged, "Looks like you have a chance to fight me properly now... By the way, what happened to the rest? They weren't killed by you, were they?"
Robert surveyed the area, having been fully focused on fighting the bootleg Superman and unaware of the situation here. Not seeing Steve and others, he initially thought they were killed by Valmont...
"Whoosh!" Before Valmont could respond, the bootleg Superman charged at Robert again. However, his strength and speed had significantly diminished after Robert broke through his steel body.
"Bang!" The next moment, Robert stepped to the left, using his legs, waist, and arms to dodge and simultaneously land a punch on the familiar face of the bootleg Superman.
With a loud noise, the bootleg Superman flew back even faster, heading straight for Valmont. Yes, Robert did it on purpose, everything under his control.
Even as the bootleg Superman flew, Robert saw pieces of stone falling from his body.
Robert, watching the stones fall, pondered whether a vibranium-made Clark powered by the mouse charm would be stronger.
"Hmph!" Watching the bootleg Superman fly towards him, Valmont squinted and snorted, preparing to catch him and show off to Robert.
"Bang!" But as his arm touched the bootleg Superman's body, Valmont trembled, the ox charm glowing brightly, yet he awkwardly stepped back, crushing several pits in the ground, before finally catching the bootleg Superman.
"…" The atmosphere turned a bit awkward, thankfully Ah fu and the others had already retreated, otherwise it would have been more uncomfortable.
Unnoticed by Valmont during this awkward moment, when the ox charm glowed, it fused from its storage into his skin, burrowing into his body!
Valmont was unaware, feeling only a surge in power, slightly boosting his confidence. But he knew it wasn't enough. Only by collecting all twelve charms could he match Robert's strength.
After all, Robert was so strong, even the Superman created by the mouse charm's power was no match. Valmont could only rely on the power of the gathered charms…
Valmont, somewhat dazed, grabbed the bootleg Superman's body, removing the mouse charm from his tattered mouth, with the Superman showing no resistance…
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