Unconsciously, Blaine covered his Copy Eye with mental power, forcing it to rotate even faster.
However, when the five-pointed star array spun back into a circle, Cross's movements still didn't slow down. In that moment of distraction, Blaine was even kicked.
Wearing the Wasp suit, Cross had completely become a villain—but according to Dr. Pym's research, no matter how large or small he became, his body mass remained the same. So even if that kick came from someone the size of a fingertip, the force behind it was the full strength of an adult.
Blaine, meanwhile, was still focused on analyzing the structure of Cross's shrinking ability, wondering why it wasn't working. He didn't even register the kick until it landed. But even then, nothing happened. Cross's foot wasn't even as effective as a tickle. Under Blaine's danger perception, the impact only registered as a light scratch.
With a physique score of 450 and wearing the Hunter suit, this kind of durability was no joke. Even if Blaine were lying on the floor asleep, Cross could attack him for an entire year and never deal actual damage—at least with ordinary human methods.
But Cross wasn't so lucky. His broken arm was already tormenting him, yet seeing the Bounty Hunter remain unaffected even after he shrank made Cross feel a touch of confidence.
Still, after delivering that full-force kick—which should have shattered a stack of tiles—nothing happened to Blaine. Instead, Cross felt like he'd kicked a slab of iron. Pain shot through his toes even through the suit.
"System, what's going on? Why can't the Copy Eye analyze Cross's abilities?"
In the end, Blaine had to admit defeat. Even universe-level opponents at least showed some signs of being analyzable. But this ability dangled in front of him, completely unreadable.
[The mechanics of the Wasp battle suit operate using imitation Pym Particles,] the system replied.
[Pym Particles are a technological product, not magic.
The Copy Eye can only analyze magical abilities, so it cannot copy Pym Particle functions.
If the host wants Pym Particles, they are available for purchase in the system store.]
Just one question, and it still managed to slip in a sales pitch.
Who would want to buy Pym Particles without a Wasp suit? And even if Blaine had a ton of them, he had no idea how to use them. High-tech things were beyond him.
"This—this is just bullying the scientifically illiterate..."
Blaine was speechless. It wasn't that he was incapable—it was that he lost to his own lack of knowledge.
"Hello, um... hope I'm not interrupting," a voice said at the door.
"I'm just here for my daughter."
"Dad!"
Scott's daughter ran over, throwing herself into his arms.
"Sweetie, you're such a good girl. Go downstairs and play for a bit," Scott said.
"Daddy has something to take care of."
The little girl nodded sensibly and bounced downstairs with her plush toy.
Blaine glanced at Scott, feeling a headache coming on. He didn't want to kill Cross right in front of him, and he definitely didn't want Scott interfering—but he also didn't see many alternatives…
…
Scott shrank down and immediately reengaged Cross, wrestling with him again. Well—that settled it for Blaine. Since Scott insisted, Blaine could only play spectator again. He had originally intended to copy their skills, but clearly that wasn't going to happen. Now he was stuck watching like a referee.
The two tiny figures darted back and forth: punching, kicking, knocking each other into toy trains and plastic trees. They seemed to forget entirely that Blaine was even in the room.
Blaine watched, bored. At that size, the fight really did look like a joke. Still, Cross seemed to have the upper hand despite his broken arm; the Wasp suit's tech was doing most of the work.
Eventually, they both returned to normal size and the fight escalated.
"Be careful—!"
As Scott shouted, Blaine suddenly felt his whole body tense.
He remembered something—Ant-Man once tried this move against the Purple Sweet Potato Titan. Shrink down, enter the enemy's body—through the eyes—and then expand to full size to burst them apart.
But it hadn't worked because of the Titan's inhuman body density.
Still—
The thought alone made Blaine shudder. The resolve needed to pull something like that off… Even with Blaine's physique, the idea made his skin crawl. Too revolting.
Such a powerful suit full of brilliant applications—and Scott chose *that* method… If Dr. Pym ever found out, he might actually die from anger.
"No. No way."
Blaine didn't want to witness that disgusting scene. And he definitely didn't want Cross dying so easily.
"Come here."
Blaine's mental power wrapped around Cross and instantly pulled him into the Hunter Space.
Meanwhile, Scott had already committed to the suicidal move. He pressed the button to shrink to subatomic size and leapt—aiming straight for Cross's body.
But mid-jump, the scene changed—and Cross was gone.
"Oh, shit—"
Scott's shout echoed as he plunged into the quantum realm. Strange microorganisms loomed larger than him from every direction. He was probably cursing nonstop inside his helmet.
Blaine shrugged awkwardly. 'This was my fight. You insisted on inserting yourself. You can't blame me if you get yourself killed.' Comforting himself with that thought, Blaine turned and teleported away.
As for Scott… that was no longer Blaine's concern.
*************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is Lord_Immortal_0170