"The blackest night falls from the skies,
The darkness grows as all light dies,
We crave your hearts and your demise,
By my black hand, the dead shall rise."
Jet-black blood foam wrapped around his body. His face had no features, and black energy lingered around him. The power of chaos was squeezed apart and torn away by the power of the Black Lantern, creating a stable space.
Renzo's featureless face silently turned toward the cocoon. His arms, entwined with death and uncertainty, gently brushed across its surface, as if he were caressing his lover.
Wanda... wait for me... After I deal with Chthon, I'll come find you. I will definitely find you!
Renzo hardened his heart and pushed the cocoon into the turbulence of time and space. The power of the Space Stone was also exhausted. The vortex closed, leaving only Renzo and Chthon in the chaos.
The Space Stone and the Mind Stone were fully activated, while the Power Stone amplified both their energies. Three-colored light enveloped Chthon, illuminating his pale face in an eerie glow.
Chthon did not care much about Wanda's departure. As long as she remained somewhere in the multiverse, as long as the concept of "Wanda" still existed in the world or in someone's memory, Chthon would have a way to find her, bring her back... and devour her.
The surging power was like a stormy sea, swallowing Chthon alive...
The next moment, scarlet fire shone through, erasing all the attacks launched against him. The energy scattered into tiny rain-like butterflies and vanished into the wind.
The following punch struck Chthon's face again. This almost thunderous blow cracked his facial features. The second punch slammed into Chthon's abdomen, sinking deep into him and leaving a clear fist mark before sending him flying hundreds of meters away.
Renzo looked down at his trembling arms. His palms were full of cracks. Even vibranium could not withstand the majestic energy of the Power Stone. Although his body quickly recovered under the repair of the Black Lantern Ring, the injuries caused by the Power Stone were not like ordinary wounds. They were extremely serious, and ordinary people would find them nearly impossible to recover from.
Of course, Star-Lord was an exception. When the Power Stone had been held in his hand, he had acted as the source, while the others were like wires transmitting the energy. Star-Lord's Celestial blood had also played an excellent role in countering it. The burst of power from the Power Stone on Xandar had been nothing in Ego's eyes.
Of course, this level of energy was still not enough to impress Chthon. His broken body healed instantly, and he stared coldly at the dark human figure. "It's useless. Although I don't know where your power comes from, compared with mine, it's still far inferior..."
Of course Renzo knew Chthon was telling the truth. He was simply unable to fully exert the power of the Infinity Stones and the Black Lantern Ring. Even Thanos could not bring out the full power of the Infinity Stones. Perhaps only the Celestials could truly unleash the full might of a single Stone.
Compared with those great cosmic beings who could slaughter across the universe at every turn, Renzo's strength, even with the blessing of three Infinity Stones, was still only second-rate on a cosmic scale. At most, he could be considered top-tier among that second rate.
Chthon's strength far exceeded Odin's and even surpassed the Celestials. Naturally, he could not be resisted by only a few Infinity Stones, especially here in his own territory, where his strength increased endlessly and continuously.
"Behold the true black magic of chaos! See how much stronger it is than the Sorcerer Supreme!" Chthon sneered. The space was once again covered in scarlet, transforming into a huge phoenix. Its crimson beak spewed fierce flames, filled with red energy, and its wings spread across the sky as it spat out scarlet magic.
"Kill him!"
With a single sentence, Renzo's soul trembled. The black plasma on his body surged with excitement, turning into black water that gradually spread through the scarlet aura. Three dark and ominous Black Lantern zombies fell from the sky.
A torrent of storm swept around them, but it had no effect on the scarlet magic. Instead, they were surrounded. Zombie Deathblade and Zombie Proxima Midnight stepped forward one after another, ignoring the scarlet power around them as they rushed straight toward Chthon.
"That's it?" Chthon smiled disdainfully. He waited until the two of them approached, then watched as their punches and kicks came toward him. With a simple wave of his hand, Chthon blocked both fierce attacks.
"This..." Chthon was startled. Dark blood spread down his scarlet arm. The black magic he was so proud of had actually become their nourishment. The slight contempt in his heart instantly vanished. He avoided the fists and feet of the two corpses, while the blackness spread like an infection, staining and corroding everything it touched.
Chop!
An arm fell instantly. Chthon decisively severed his own limb. The next second, it grew back again. His terrifying regeneration ability was so extreme that even Deadpool would have been left behind.
Zombie Deathblade and Zombie Proxima had a tacit understanding of each other. During their lives, they had been top generals under Thanos, as well as husband and wife. Their strength was not weak, and when paired together, one plus one became greater than two.
Even without their weapons, their combat skills could still suppress Captain America.
Under their skillful and coordinated attacks, aided by the strange dark liquid, Chthon frowned. The scarlet black magic spread like sticky blood, slowly crawling up the bodies of the two corpses. Cracks gradually appeared, and their terrifying faces tore apart, making them even more hideous.
"Kill..."
A flash of crimson passed.
Zombie Deathblade's head was instantly severed, and Zombie Proxima Midnight's body was chopped in half.
Chthon, Elder God of the Underworld, destroyed the two zombies with just one sentence. With only a word, the Black Lantern zombies turned into powder and dissipated into the infinite crimson.
Renzo's face remained expressionless. He had not expected to use the Black Lantern power to deal with Chthon. He was only delaying time, waiting for a flaw to appear...
"Mephisto said there is no defense line on Earth that can stop the attack of a demon god. That the so-called Avengers are vulnerable. It seems... that was a little biased."
"What is your name? With such strength... you are worth remembering." Chthon admired Renzo very much. The partner of the vessel he had chosen was also the controller of the Infinity Stones, and he possessed this mysterious, evil power as well. His strength was barely enough to stand near Chthon's level.
If he could tempt this person... then no Mephisto, no Dormammu, no Celestials... none of them would be opponents of the Elder God of the Underworld!
Renzo floated quietly, his entire body swallowed by darkness and shadow. The scarlet aura did not dare approach him and remained far away. A colorless vacuum appeared between the two of them. Their invisible momentum violently collided and exploded!
"Renzo... I hope you can remember that name. Otherwise... you won't have another chance."
"Hmm?"
The torrent of zombies instantly stirred up an endless storm, and purple light exploded from within the body.
Riptide could originally create only a small tornado, one that could at most roll up a wooden house, but with the blessing of the Power Stone, his ability was terrifyingly amplified.
The violent black tornado tore off Chthon's lower body, and the black plasma infected the entire space. Looking at his severed lower half, Chthon was slightly surprised. He had not expected that the one who seemed least threatening to him would cause the greatest damage.
Before he could react, his chest was pierced by a golden beam of light. His body was like a soft ribbon. Renzo's arm was stuck inside him, and the two of them flew together for countless kilometers.
Riptide's body could not withstand the power of the Power Stone. It was torn apart and exploded on the spot.
"Ahhhhh!" Renzo roared and pushed Chthon forward. His right fist, covered in deep purple light, struck the pale, blood-red face of the Elder God again and again. Each time he punched, the Power Stone exploded once inside his body, and his fist cracked.
The two crossed the sky, and fragments of vibranium flew down to the ground.
Renzo pressed Chthon's head down and beat him violently for a long time. The power of the Black Lantern had faded from his body. His red-and-purple fist slammed heavily into Chthon's broken body. Precise circuits were exposed, the shell of his fist fell away and shattered, and his forearms were corroded by scarlet energy.
As if Renzo could not see it, the power of the three Stones erupted, and he punched Chthon downward, causing spatial cracks to appear throughout the vast crimson world.
"Ah!"
Boom!
Time froze instantly. Renzo's eyes widened, and he angrily strengthened his fist.
Chthon received it easily. A trace of evil flashed through his pupils, the corner of his mouth curved upward, and he smiled. "Seeing you fight so comfortably, I suppose my warm-up should be over. Now... it's my turn!"
Chthon grabbed Renzo's fist, and crimson energy corroded his arm. With a twist, he tore the entire arm from Renzo's body. Then he punched Renzo in the face, sending him flying backward like a rocket until he disappeared from sight.
Throwing away the severed arm like garbage, Chthon smiled wickedly. His figure instantly reappeared like an evil ghost descending. Obscure spells poured from his mouth, and two wisps of scarlet followed Chthon's arm, climbing up Renzo's body.
"It's difficult, isn't it... watching yourself die bit by bit? Life is so fragile as it drains away. Join me... We can rule the multiverse together! Even the Living Tribunal and the Celestials will not be our opponents!" Chthon said seductively. "You like that woman. Together, you can control scarlet power. The Scarlet Witch and the Scarlet Captain? What do you think of that name?"
"Ha..." Renzo was tightly bound by chains transformed from crimson energy. No matter how hard he struggled, it did not work. Even if his body became intangible, he could not escape these chains.
"Don't even think about it!" Renzo spat out thick phlegm that did not exist. It did no damage, but it was extremely insulting.
Chthon lowered his head and sneered. "In that case... I will accept the Infinity Stones!"
His pale fingers touched the Mind Stone, and three slender, sharp fingers applied slight pressure.
Severe pain... unbearable pain!
Renzo could not help roaring. He could feel the Mind Stone being gradually stripped away from his body. His strength and life would turn to ashes with the departure of the Mind Stone, and his body would become nothing but stone.
His whole body trembled with all its strength, and great fear hung over his heart. Even though he had no heart, he could still feel the tearing pain deep within him.
Renzo's body kept changing. Sometimes it revealed a red-and-green face, and sometimes it returned to Paul's human form. But between the two, an Eastern figure faintly appeared, roaring in pain, eyes tightly closed, trembling violently.
Chthon looked madly at the suffering Renzo. He strengthened his grip a little more, growing excited, his pupils reflecting Renzo's miserable state.
...
The moon was bright and the stars were few. The night sky looked as if it had been washed clean. The bright moon hung high above the dark curtain of night. From time to time, the shadows of flying birds passed by, and their loud cries made squirrels climb up the branches and look around.
A crimson cocoon stood majestically in a hole in the ground, with bright red liquid flowing down from it and spilling onto the soil.
The wind blew through the forest, and the scarlet cocoon was like a surging heart, trembling with every movement...
Wanda lay quietly inside it, her eyes tightly closed and her expression full of pain.
Renzo's tragic situation kept flashing before her eyes, and his miserable, desperate roar was like a sharp sword... piercing into her heart.
"No... no!" The girl's weak voice emerged through the thin shell of the cocoon.
Inside the cocoon, a strange scarlet aura suddenly rose from Wanda's body, lighting up the entire forest...
Chthon clung to the Mind Stone. The vibranium on Renzo's forehead shattered. He was about to succeed, and Chthon's face revealed an expression of joy...
"Ah!" An inexplicable crimson force suddenly attacked Chthon. The Elder God was unable to dodge, and one of his hands was cut off.
Chthon cried out in pain, and there was no sign of healing from the wound. Instead, thick blood dripped down and splashed onto Renzo's body.
The chains binding Renzo also snapped one after another. After all, the Mind Stone had not been fully taken, and Renzo escaped from Chthon's clutches.
"Wanda..."
"Wanda?!"
Both of them knew that only one person in the entire multiverse could mobilize the power of chaos across countless dimensions and injure Chthon, Elder God of the Underworld.
Renzo shook his broken arm and gritted his teeth as he moved thousands of meters away from Chthon. The vibranium on his chest was also in tatters. The two Stones embedded there were crumbling, and various electronic components were exposed.
He could barely control his body and was teetering on the edge of collapse.
"I can't die... I can't die yet! The crisis hasn't been resolved... Wanda is still in another universe..."
"I want to live!"
The three Stones—the Mind Stone, the Power Stone, and the Space Stone—all erupted with violent flashes. The dazzling light almost enveloped the entire chaotic world.
Renzo's powerful desire to survive finally drew out the power of the three Infinity Stones, and his body gradually stabilized. No more vibranium fragments fell from him.
Chthon, Elder God of the Underworld, looked at the ridiculous scene before him and felt an indescribable sensation in his heart.
"Am I afraid?"
Chthon looked away in panic and glanced around. "Am I scared?" His expression was filled with fear. His pupils widened, the corners of his mouth dropped, and a twisted, distorted expression appeared on his face before he let out a ferocious laugh.
"I'm scared... How strange... I have never felt such emotion before. Thank you... I truly wanted to remember your name, but now it's no longer necessary..."
Chthon laughed wildly and moved closer to Renzo's body. The new hands that grew back transformed into monstrous claws. Ashes fell from his body and were buried in crimson...
Renzo stared closely at Chthon as he gradually approached. The three Stones fired at full power. The two of them actually chose the most primitive form of combat, trading punches and kicks.
Every punch Renzo threw could shatter space. The Space Stone was amplified by the Power Stone. Every blow from the two of them broke through a cosmic barrier and dragged them into a new universe.
A painted universe, a two-dimensional universe, an animal universe, the New Fantastic Four universe...
Renzo could not remember how many punches he had thrown. His mind was so muddled that he only knew he had to keep attacking, because only by doing so could he survive.
Boom!
The sleeping Wanda mobilized the power inside Chthon's body, causing him to lose control for an instant. Renzo saw the perfect moment and threw his final punch.
Crack!
The barrier of the multiverse broke again, and Chthon fell into the crack and disappeared.
"It's over..."
The grand and beautiful night view of New York, with its tall buildings and busy traffic... This was the last thing Renzo saw before closing his eyes.
...
"Scott, there's something here."
"What happened?"
A man wearing sunglasses hurried over, following the sound, only to see a red-haired woman standing in confusion before a pit in the ground.
"This thing looks like a... cocoon?"
"Tell the Professor, Jean..."
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