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It had to be said that Ego's lie was nearly perfect! However, there was one massive falsehood within it, a flaw that could never be patched.
One flaw was enough to cause the entire structure to collapse! If this world truly belonged to Ego then he wouldn't need to spend time "replacing" things or explain himself to Arthur.
When nothing else could explain it, only one conclusion remained: Ego was lying!
To go to such lengths and plot for so long, there could be only one explanation. He had been silently accumulating power. In other words, he wasn't confident that he could deal with Arthur directly using his current strength.
Once everything became clear, the first thing Arthur did was unleash the raging cosmic energy! A massive roar exploded across the universe. Invisible shadows rose and clashed repeatedly.
"I must admit, you're even more clever and powerful than I imagined!" Ego's voice filled the universe. "But you should never have given me so many chances. What you should have done was strike the moment you understood everything!"
"Early or late makes no difference. If a power gap could be closed that easily, you wouldn't need to waste your breath here with me."
Arthur's voice, just as loud and thunderous, reverberated through the cosmos like a breaking storm: "The fact is, you're nowhere near as strong as you think you are!"
Violent cosmic energy surged, and a deafening boom echoed out, instantly followed by annihilation.
Collapse.
Destruction.
Darkness.
Light of every kind wove through the universe, merging into the whole and splitting apart into dazzling, eerie colors until, finally, everything dissolved into nothingness.
Two battered, brain-like masses, each riddled with wounds and flickering with wild particles of light, floated in space.
"It's over..."
Arthur's voice echoed through the cosmos. "My Disassembler didn't grind you down completely. I'll finish the job myself."
Even if you kill me, you'll never truly erase me!" Ego's voice now carried rage and defiance. He had intended to use the time to amass power, but in the process, he had inadvertently allowed Arthur to master the use of the Particles.
Without that ability, even if Arthur had greater raw strength, he might not have been able to unleash his full potential in a true fight.
"My soul will forever reside within yours, nourished by your soul itself. And when you least expect it, you'll lose all control over this body!"
Ego's furious voice roared through the universe.
But the next second, a massive wave of energy crashed down, and in an instant, everything vanished! The blocked senses suddenly returned. The lost memories were instantly restored. Then, he remembered one critical, deadly detail!
"Damn it! In this cursed trial, how am I supposed to replenish my internal energy once it runs out?!"
At the same time, a powerful suction appeared. The next second, Arthur felt his perspective lock in place, fixed and unchanging. In the void, another consciousness seemed to circle, thinking about his state.
"This is..."
In a single thought, Arthur suddenly felt his spirit rise infinitely. The next instant, he opened his eyes!
Golden energy contracted, and lines of prompts appeared before him.
[Energy nearly depleted. Would you like to use a Pure Energy Stone to replenish it?"
[Energy nearly depleted. Would you like to use a Pure Energy Stone to replenish it?"
Energy nearly depleted. Would you like to use a Pure Energy Stone to replenish it?
Three times in a row!
However, before that happened, Arthur had already noticed someone else within the golden energy!
His figure vanished instantly from where he had stood. The destructive energy softened, and the next moment, he reappeared at Natasha's side.
Her body was covered in wounds. Her combat suit had been completely obliterated by the energy. Most of her skin had been stripped away, and her vital signs were fading rapidly!
"Natasha…"
He spoke her name, but his voice never reached her ears. He took a deep breath, and all of his energy transformed into a massive golden eye. The golden pupils shone, converting his energy into a restorative force that poured into her broken body.
Before his eyes, her wounds began to heal visibly, and Natasha gradually opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Arthur, gaunt and almost skeletal, with a gaze carrying emotions too complex to describe. Yet Natasha smiled.
She reached out and gently touched his cheek. She mouthed the words: "Did I cause you trouble?"
Though her voice did not carry, Arthur clearly read her lips.
That single phrase struck Arthur's heart with an indescribable feeling. He clenched his teeth and shook his head firmly.
In that instant, he finally understood why his emotions had been so turbulent.
Even though he could no longer sense changes in the outside world, deep within his subconscious, he had felt it all.
Perhaps in that moment his soul had watched this woman step by step into certain death, carrying nothing but unyielding devotion.
But if her feelings were so deep, how could he possibly repay them?
"Then... did I help?"
Natasha's lips moved again, and Arthur understood once more.
He smiled faintly, then nodded seriously.
If not for his desperate cry from the depths of his soul at that moment, how would he have realized anything was wrong? If not for this woman charging in without regard for her own life, he would likely still be in the dark.
Within the Disassembler's space, a new set of clothes materialized around Natasha's body. In the next instant, Arthur pressed a hand against the back of her neck.
Natasha clung to his arm, gently closed her eyes. Her fingertips tightened slightly, and the next moment, she slipped into unconsciousness.
There was no time to waste. Arthur drew Natasha into the Disassembler's space, and in the next instant, he chose to use a Pure Energy Stone to replenish his strength!
Casting only a single glance toward Tony and the others in the distance, Arthur then shut his eyes once more, and entered the upgrade state he should have embraced long ago…
(End of Chapter)
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