Sparring Partners

The transformed black panther form of Bastis remained at the mountain peak, watching as the others battled the two members of the Celestial Group.

Unlike Rocket, Groot, and Lorna, Bastis, who in previous life was the guardian goddess of Wakanda, was the only one besides Zane with divine potential.

Because of this, she felt an instinctive fear toward the Celestial Group's Destroyer and Searcher, who stood at the pinnacle of this universe.

As a fellow deity, she could sense that these higher-dimensional gods possessed power beyond anyone's ability to match.

But now, Bastis realized that the Destroyer, a god who had made her tremble in fear, had actually fallen to Lorna.

"Is the Infinity Gauntlet really that powerful?"

"I remember, Master had just reforged it earlier, right?"

With that thought, Bastis turned to look at Zane, who had yet to make a move since the beginning.

"Master, what are you planning?"

Zane, standing still, noticed Bastis's gaze and returned her look with a faint smile, then continued to watch the fight.

"After upgrading to SSS rank, my skills in forging have improved quite a bit too."

"The current Infinity Gauntlet is so terrifying that it can't even be compared to the one in the original world's movie that wiped out half the universe with a snap after collecting all six Infinity Stones."

"However, the gap in dimensions can't be easily bridged just by relying on the gauntlet."

"Lorna won't hold on much longer."

Bang!

Lorna struck again.

Her left hand, adorned with the Infinity Gauntlet, unleashed a fierce punch, locking onto the Destroyer's time and space through the power of the gauntlet.

He couldn't escape the attack.

Once again, her fist landed on the Destroyer's thick helmet.

However, this time, the Destroyer didn't exude any anger.

His once furious eyes now returned to calmness.

... ...

"Buzz, buzz, buzz, you've ruined this Infinity Gauntlet."

"Shut up! I'm going to tear off that metal armor of yours!"

Just as Lorna prepared to throw another heavy punch, the Destroyer pointed coldly in her direction.

In an instant, the space around Lorna was stripped of all attributes, as though a massive pit had appeared on the ground.

Lorna was trapped and immobilized.

"You're wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, which holds the essence of the universe's various powers."

"Yet, you fight like a child, completely ignorant of how to wield that power."

"The highest expression of power is omnipresent rules."

"And my rule is destruction."

"I have destroyed all the time and space around you, so you are stuck and cannot move."

"Now, I will destroy you!"

"Destruction!"

The Destroyer pointed his finger at Lorna, and a wave of energy slowly formed, heading toward her.

"Let me experience your rule as well, Destroyer!"

Just as the wave was about to strike Lorna, Zane, who had been standing still, suddenly moved, flashing to Lorna's side.

Under the Destroyer's shocked gaze, Zane rescued the trapped Lorna.

Then, before everyone's eyes, Rocket and Groot, who had been reduced to ashes, reappeared.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz, is this the rule of death?"

"Not bad, at least you recognize it!"

Lorna was saved by Zane and brought back to the mountaintop.

The mountaintop, though not very spacious, had a large, dark pit about ten meters in diameter at its center.

From the outside, it didn't appear to be too deep, but it gave the unsettling feeling that at any moment, a terrifying ancient beast might leap out from within. It was a chilling sight from a distance.

Lorna and Zane stood near the edge of the pit, close to the mountain path, facing the massive, five-to-six-meter-tall Destroyer from the Celestial Group, who stood isolated on the other side.

The towering figure of the Destroyer stood near the cliff's edge, making it seem as though the mountain itself could collapse under his immense weight.

At this moment, Lorna buried her pretty face deep in Zane's broad chest.

The large panther Bastis stood a few meters behind them, to the right, her limbs tense. Her sleek black fur gradually became dusted with frost, though it did nothing to conceal the powerful muscles rippling across her body.

Behind them, Rocket and Groot, who had just been resurrected, stood in a daze.

Rocket let out a sharp scream and quickly turned his back to everyone, realizing that he was completely naked. Not only had he lost the mechanical battle armor he had used against the Celestials, but even his clothes had disappeared.

"I am Groot..."

The now small tree-like Groot blinked his bright eyes as he looked at Rocket, then examined his own body. He realized he hadn't changed much and, after some thought, remembered he didn't wear clothes anyway.

When Lorna looked up at the sound and saw Rocket and Groot resurrected, her face reflected the same shock and disbelief.

She knew that her man, Zane, had the power to revive others, but when Rocket and Groot had been completely obliterated by the Destroyer, she wasn't sure if even Zane could bring them back.

This uncertainty was what had driven her to angrily attack the Destroyer in desperation.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz, I don't sense any temporal energy from you."

"So, you didn't use the Time Stone to bring back these two ants I clearly destroyed."

The Destroyer spoke with a buzzing voice from the other side of the massive pit, his towering figure gazing at the group.

He took a step forward, placing his massive foot over the pit. As his foot touched the ground, the once terrifying hole was instantly filled with rock and earth, returning to its original, intact state.

"So, this is your divine power— the power of death."

"I've seen Odin's and your battle in which you used the rules of death."

"I didn't expect someone who has barely consolidated their divine power to wield their essence so skillfully."

Zane remained calm at the Destroyer's words. He wasn't surprised that a being from the Celestial Group, with its billions of years of history in this universe, could so easily recognize his core divine power.

As the Destroyer had noted, it was thanks to Zane's newly upgraded SSS-level skill, "Divine Kingdom," that Rocket and Groot were able to resurrect. This ability allowed Zane to ensure that within a certain range, his teammates could not die or be destroyed.

When he first sensed the sudden appearance of two powerful lifeforms in outer space near Vormir, Zane knew the Celestial Group had come to capture him. At that moment, he activated his "Divine Kingdom," enveloping all of his teammates within its protection, spanning miles around.

That was why Zane had been able to stand there with such confidence.

"Rocket, Groot, Lorna, and Bastis."

"I know all of you are eager to grow, eager to continue following me on this journey."

Zane stood at the front, holding Lorna in his arms, speaking in a firm voice.

"So, I've given you this opportunity to experience firsthand the enemies you will soon face."

"Only through this will you be able to improve your strength step by step."

"Remember this moment—those two you just faced are the best sparring partners you could ever have."

*************************************

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

Or you feel like tipping me for my hardwork you can do so on Ko*fi

ko-fi.com/lord_immortal_0170