Chapter 359: The Spatial Cage

Mount Akina, located in Gunma Prefecture's Mount Akina, is one of the top destinations for daredevil drivers due to its treacherous roads that feature nine turns and eighteen bends. Despite the risk, the thrill of driving on such roads is unmatched.

A poem goes:

On Mount Akina, where few tread, racers come to show their speed;

Though the track remains, the old drivers are seen no more.

Today, Mount Akina welcomes a formidable novice female driver.

This notorious newbie, feared by all, drives a freshly manufactured Wuling Hongguang, its doors boldly emblazoned with "Specializes in Fixing Leaky Buildings." While her driving skills are poor, her speed is uncompromising. A closer look reveals a faint blue halo enveloping her vehicle, reinforcing it to be tougher than a tank.

Throughout her journey, this fierce driver has collapsed several parts of the mountain and shattered numerous trees. Sometimes, her car breaks through the guardrails, flying off the track, only to return under the force of spatial energy, adding an exhilarating twist to the ordeal.

Seeing such a ferocious competitor, who handles her car more aggressively than a Transformer, the other racers are petrified. Not even the likes of Takumi Fujiwara or Optimus Prime and Bumblebee would dare challenge her!

However, inside the car, the beautiful driver mutters in annoyance, "Who says you need to drive a Wuling Hongguang to be a driving god? It's all lies! How does this compare to a Lamborghini in speed or performance? This is not satisfying at all. Once I get some money from that scoundrel, I'm buying a top-tier sports car for a proper race."

As she drifts around another bend flawlessly, it's evident that her learning curve as a novice driver is commendable, managing to master drifting on her first try.

After a series of bends, smoothly navigated through soaring vehicle performance, she frowns after turning the last corner.

She recognizes this part of the road; the half-broken pine tree by the first bend and the landslide by the third were her doing.

Could it be that she's stuck in a loop? That's impossible. Mount Akina is known for its straightforward path, not for circling back!

Surprised, she extends her spatial powers only to find that the space around her is inexplicably sealed, limiting her abilities to within ten meters!

More shockingly, her spatial probe reveals that she is no longer on Mount Akina's road but suspended in an endless void. The mountain on her left, the trees on her right, the road beneath, and the distant Akimi Lake...

Everything around her is neither real nor imaginary but exists in a state between the two, indicating she's been tricked!

Realizing this, she explosively unleashes her spatial powers, destroying the Wuling Hongguang she was in, but no amount of force seems to alter her surreal predicament.

Clearly, she's facing a constraint beyond dimensional boundaries, beyond her brute force abilities.

Faced with the lonely road of Mount Akina, she trembles with rage and after a long silence, she roars, "Scoundrel, come out!"

"A poorly mannered girl indeed," Clark materializes before her, his expression one of resignation, "You entered my company without permission, took money to buy a junk car, and raced recklessly on Mount Akina. Do you realize the danger you could cause?"

"Hmph!"

The girl, previously caught stealing at Nirvana Group headquarters, Lois, scoffs dismissively and says, "That's why I chose this section to race. Don't pretend with me; I know what you're like. You care about the lives of the people in the Neon country as much as a joke, so don't spout things even you don't believe."

Clark, momentarily speechless by her familiarity, shakes his head and skips over the topic, "What about breaking into my company and stealing? Shouldn't you explain yourself?"

"Simple, I had no money," Lois spreads her hands, "I can't just take someone else's money; that would be stealing!"

Clark can't help but laugh at her logic.

So, you know stealing is wrong, but taking my things isn't considered stealing?

Waving off further argument, Clark calmly says, "The power of the Space Stone, one of the six fundamental forces of the universe, isn't meant for you to steal things. Think about where you went wrong. If you figure it out, shout my name three times."

With that, he vanishes from Lois's sight.

Seeing Clark really leave, Lois panics and shouts, "Scoundrel! Scoundrel! Scoundrel! Let me out, or I'll never forgive you!"

Clark's voice calmly echoes from all directions, "My name isn't Scoundrel."

Lois, defiant, retorts,

 "Fine, keep it... I don't believe I can't get out on my own!"

As she speaks, her arms slowly open, and over thirty colorful bubbles appear around her, quickly morphing into sharp, multicolored flying knives. With a fierce look, she launches them forward, tearing through space.

"Bzzz!"

Just as the knives reach the ten-meter boundary, a blue barrier with golden runes, each filled with immense power, emerges. Even her space-tearing knives can't make a ripple upon impact.

"I don't believe this," Lois, stubbornly refusing to accept defeat, steps forward, transforming into a streak of light as she dashes forward, bypassing the barrier that had previously confined her powers.

Pausing in confusion, she launches another volley of colorful knives, only to be stopped again ten meters ahead.

So, the barrier is centered on her?

Realizing brute force won't break it, she notes the runes look familiar. Recalling, she recognizes they resonate with the incomplete space laws within her, though these are more perfect.

Determined to break through, Lois takes out a leather sofa from her space, sits down, and starts pondering the runes.

Three minutes later, her eyes brighten, and she sends out another knife. This time, it's not just sharp but stable and substantial.

The barrier melts away like ice under the sun as the knife makes contact.

I thought that scoundrel's spatial cage was impressive, but it turns out... Damn!

Before she can gloat, her knife, having breached the barrier, hits a second one eleven meters ahead and vanishes.

Will this ever end?

Frustrated but undeterred, Lois settles into the sofa, ready to tackle the next, more complex barrier.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards, has arrived at the Avengers' base.

True to his moniker, Reed's addition has significantly enhanced Tony's personal space flight gear, solving the critical issue for several team members and upgrading the Iron Man suit, boosting the team's combat capabilities.

In just three days and two nights, the gear for Captain America, Tony, Wanda, and Mantis is upgraded, and Thor and the Warriors Three from Asgard are summoned.

With the Avengers' top forces assembled, Clark gives everyone a night to rest, preparing them to face the planet devourer in their best condition.

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