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Chapter 354: A Gift Fulfilled
The brutal fighting style, transmitted through the ground and air, caused regional agitation: the earth shook and the mountains swayed, and all the particles in the air began to become unusually agitated.
Naturally, this battle alarmed many people; the closest to be disturbed were the League of Shadows, who were also lurking in the Middle East.
The League of Shadows, also known as the League of Assassins, boasted a long legacy and had an unpleasant past with Tony. Back then, it was just a minor conflict. If Tony had remained a nobody, the League wouldn't have hesitated to casually dispatch him. But as Tony grew terrifyingly powerful, those unpleasantries naturally diminished into minor conflicts.
Several high-ranking members of the League of Shadows watched the intense battle from a distance using various devices, filled with trepidation.
"Have you confirmed their identities?"
"We can confirm that one of them is Tony. As for the other, we speculate he is likely Dracula."
Lady Shiva lowered her binoculars, her face incredibly grim. She turned to Ra's al Ghul and said, "It seems we were right not to offend him a few years ago. He's becoming more and more terrifying, and, most importantly, increasingly unrestrained."
The most troublesome enemy isn't one who is suffocatingly strong, but one who dares to do anything. And the most terrifying enemy one should never cross is one who possesses both immense power and the audacity to kill without restraint.
Lady Shiva had no doubt that if they had truly offended Tony to the point of no return, he would instead be massacring their League of Shadows right now.
Ra's al Ghul was a middle-aged to elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair, a delicate handlebar mustache, and a long black robe. He held a black staff, appearing exceedingly gentlemanly, like an old scholar.
He had gone by many names over the past few hundred years, but none of that mattered now.
This man, who had remained immortal thanks to a spring of resurrection, was calmly watching the distant battle. An unavoidable trace of regret crossed his face.
He had originally wanted to find Dracula and cooperate with him, but that plan was clearly bankrupt now. Before that man, Dracula was as good as dead.
"Our focus now must return to Gotham City. We need to find a way to force Batman out again. Does Bruce think that by killing me and teaming up with that Owl Mayor, he can restore order to Gotham City? Corruption can only be cleansed with fire." Ra's al Ghul watched for a moment longer before shaking his head, turning to leave with an air of indifference.
A lion does not befriend a rabbit. They no longer had the opportunity to associate with Tony. Unless the rabbit was willing to become the lion's vassal, keeping a wide berth was the best method.
The earth was still trembling, but it no longer surprised them.
Lady Shiva thought for a moment and said to Ra's al Ghul, "Our people in Gotham City have tracked down a very interesting little girl named Raven. It's said she comes from another planet and fled to Earth to seek help from the Guardians here..."
...
The two clashed—or rather, Tony pinned down Dracula and beat him violently, one punch after another. Each blow carried a greater impact than the last.
Gradually, Tony began to use the power of the Allspark. When he attacked Dracula, not only did he destroy Dracula's virus, but he also annihilated all the Anomalous Cells within his body.
Tony grew stronger as he fought, while Dracula grew weaker. Every collision was whittling away his lifespan.
The longer the fight went on, the more Dracula couldn't take it. Finally, he couldn't help but roar in fury.
"Enough! Who the hell are you?! A Mutant? A lackey of Apocalypse? Or some other creature?! Stop!!!"
Dracula was knocked down again by a punch, his body battered and pockmarked. Even his powerful, monster-like physique was being shattered by Tony. The outer shell of his body was smashed to pieces, breaking apart and falling to the ground stained with blood.
But Tony had no intention of stopping. His cold, cruel gaze was devoid of any fluctuation, not even a hint of Killing Intent, which terrified Dracula even more.
Internally, Dracula felt aggrieved to the extreme.
Who the hell did I provoke???
He was just sleeping underground, and getting woken up was one thing, but the bastard who woke him up declared he was going to kill him with his first words?! And to top it off, he couldn't even beat him!
Just how many years have I been asleep? Has the way of the world become this vicious? Fighting on sight? Dracula's mind was already starting to doubt his un-life.
Tony remained silent, but his attacks became even more ruthless. This time, he opened his palm, revealing the yellow Infinity Stone in its center.
A faint yellow halo shone, dazzling and bewitching, but Dracula shuddered violently. A sudden chill rose in his heart; he felt a fatal threat from this Infinity Stone.
"Damn it, who are you and what do you want!!!" Dracula was beside himself with anger, and also with panic. He began to think about how to escape.
But there was no escape.
"This is the Mind Stone. In the face of its power, you will either become my slave or be killed by me."
Tony said, clenching his fist. The yellow light shone through his hand as psionic power rapidly spread out, covering everything as it rushed toward Dracula.
Dracula was both shocked and enraged, his body instinctively retreating.
He didn't know what the Mind Stone was; he had no knowledge of such a cosmic-level artifact's existence. But the fatal threat it exuded was no joke.
In an instant, a terrifying psionic force invaded his soul, beginning to reshape his thoughts.
"No, no, you can't do this! I don't even know who you are! You absolutely cannot control me! I am the Progenitor of the Vampires!!!"
Dracula screamed in agony as his soul clashed with the power of the Mind Stone. The difference was like a raging brook against a casually overflowing river. His spirit and soul were instantly suppressed, and no matter how he resisted, he was forced to submit.
Tony's ferocious expression gradually softened, and the coldness in his eyes faded, replaced by an ancient, rippleless calm.
Much of his inner vexation had been released.
He was now able to fully master the power of one Infinity Stone—meaning he could touch the stone with his bare flesh without needing a Carrier.
But it was only one Infinity Stone. He couldn't master two at the same time, and three would bring him to his knees.
He was, after all, only a Demigod.
A Demigod's soul, a Demigod's body, a Demigod's perspective, a Demigod's capacity. For a being like Tony to perfectly master one Infinity Stone, use two simultaneously, and perhaps even grit his teeth and pay a price to wield three, was already an incredibly remarkable feat across the entire Universe.
Countless beings who obtained an Infinity Stone could only stare at it blankly. They didn't dare touch it, because a single touch meant death.
Tony could achieve this only because he had the Allspark to keep things in check. No matter how unruly the Infinity Stones were, they were just trinkets before the Allspark.
It was just that these trinkets contained an immense amount of energy that was difficult to control.
Dracula screamed as he collapsed helplessly. Tony stepped forward slowly, his face expressionless as he placed a hand on Dracula's grotesque head. He gradually applied pressure, and then, brutally twisted it off.
The splattering blood was instantly vaporized by Tony, and the Progenitor Virus within was completely eradicated, ensuring not a single trace of the virus would remain.
A virus is also a lifeform, and it was completely countered by the Allspark. All of the virus was annihilated.
"With this, the only one left on Earth is that half-blood vampire, Victor Strange. If he's harmless, I can let him be, but I'll have to have a talk with that brainless fellow Stephen..."
Tony raised his head, looking up at the sky with a somewhat dazed expression. The azure sky was spotless.
"Once, I promised you I would kill all the Vampires. Now, I've finally, barely, managed to do it..."
Tony murmured to himself in a low voice.
(end of chapter)
The brutal fighting style, transmitted through the ground and air, caused regional agitation: the earth shook and the mountains swayed, and all the particles in the air began to become unusually agitated.
Naturally, this battle alarmed many people; the closest to be disturbed were the League of Shadows, who were also lurking in the Middle East.
The League of Shadows, also known as the League of Assassins, boasted a long legacy and had an unpleasant past with Tony. Back then, it was just a minor conflict. If Tony had remained a nobody, the League wouldn't have hesitated to casually dispatch him. But as Tony grew terrifyingly powerful, those unpleasantries naturally diminished into minor conflicts.
Several high-ranking members of the League of Shadows watched the intense battle from a distance using various devices, filled with trepidation.
"Have you confirmed their identities?"
"We can confirm that one of them is Tony. As for the other, we speculate he is likely Dracula."
Lady Shiva lowered her binoculars, her face incredibly grim. She turned to Ra's al Ghul and said, "It seems we were right not to offend him a few years ago. He's becoming more and more terrifying, and, most importantly, increasingly unrestrained."
The most troublesome enemy isn't one who is suffocatingly strong, but one who dares to do anything. And the most terrifying enemy one should never cross is one who possesses both immense power and the audacity to kill without restraint.
Lady Shiva had no doubt that if they had truly offended Tony to the point of no return, he would instead be massacring their League of Shadows right now.
Ra's al Ghul was a middle-aged to elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair, a delicate handlebar mustache, and a long black robe. He held a black staff, appearing exceedingly gentlemanly, like an old scholar.
He had gone by many names over the past few hundred years, but none of that mattered now.
This man, who had remained immortal thanks to a spring of resurrection, was calmly watching the distant battle. An unavoidable trace of regret crossed his face.
He had originally wanted to find Dracula and cooperate with him, but that plan was clearly bankrupt now. Before that man, Dracula was as good as dead.
"Our focus now must return to Gotham City. We need to find a way to force Batman out again. Does Bruce think that by killing me and teaming up with that Owl Mayor, he can restore order to Gotham City? Corruption can only be cleansed with fire." Ra's al Ghul watched for a moment longer before shaking his head, turning to leave with an air of indifference.
A lion does not befriend a rabbit. They no longer had the opportunity to associate with Tony. Unless the rabbit was willing to become the lion's vassal, keeping a wide berth was the best method.
The earth was still trembling, but it no longer surprised them.
Lady Shiva thought for a moment and said to Ra's al Ghul, "Our people in Gotham City have tracked down a very interesting little girl named Raven. It's said she comes from another planet and fled to Earth to seek help from the Guardians here..."
...
The two clashed—or rather, Tony pinned down Dracula and beat him violently, one punch after another. Each blow carried a greater impact than the last.
Gradually, Tony began to use the power of the Allspark. When he attacked Dracula, not only did he destroy Dracula's virus, but he also annihilated all the Anomalous Cells within his body.
Tony grew stronger as he fought, while Dracula grew weaker. Every collision was whittling away his lifespan.
The longer the fight went on, the more Dracula couldn't take it. Finally, he couldn't help but roar in fury.
"Enough! Who the hell are you?! A Mutant? A lackey of Apocalypse? Or some other creature?! Stop!!!"
Dracula was knocked down again by a punch, his body battered and pockmarked. Even his powerful, monster-like physique was being shattered by Tony. The outer shell of his body was smashed to pieces, breaking apart and falling to the ground stained with blood.
But Tony had no intention of stopping. His cold, cruel gaze was devoid of any fluctuation, not even a hint of Killing Intent, which terrified Dracula even more.
Internally, Dracula felt aggrieved to the extreme.
Who the hell did I provoke???
He was just sleeping underground, and getting woken up was one thing, but the bastard who woke him up declared he was going to kill him with his first words?! And to top it off, he couldn't even beat him!
Just how many years have I been asleep? Has the way of the world become this vicious? Fighting on sight? Dracula's mind was already starting to doubt his un-life.
Tony remained silent, but his attacks became even more ruthless. This time, he opened his palm, revealing the yellow Infinity Stone in its center.
A faint yellow halo shone, dazzling and bewitching, but Dracula shuddered violently. A sudden chill rose in his heart; he felt a fatal threat from this Infinity Stone.
"Damn it, who are you and what do you want!!!" Dracula was beside himself with anger, and also with panic. He began to think about how to escape.
But there was no escape.
"This is the Mind Stone. In the face of its power, you will either become my slave or be killed by me."
Tony said, clenching his fist. The yellow light shone through his hand as psionic power rapidly spread out, covering everything as it rushed toward Dracula.
Dracula was both shocked and enraged, his body instinctively retreating.
He didn't know what the Mind Stone was; he had no knowledge of such a cosmic-level artifact's existence. But the fatal threat it exuded was no joke.
In an instant, a terrifying psionic force invaded his soul, beginning to reshape his thoughts.
"No, no, you can't do this! I don't even know who you are! You absolutely cannot control me! I am the Progenitor of the Vampires!!!"
Dracula screamed in agony as his soul clashed with the power of the Mind Stone. The difference was like a raging brook against a casually overflowing river. His spirit and soul were instantly suppressed, and no matter how he resisted, he was forced to submit.
Tony's ferocious expression gradually softened, and the coldness in his eyes faded, replaced by an ancient, rippleless calm.
Much of his inner vexation had been released.
He was now able to fully master the power of one Infinity Stone—meaning he could touch the stone with his bare flesh without needing a Carrier.
But it was only one Infinity Stone. He couldn't master two at the same time, and three would bring him to his knees.
He was, after all, only a Demigod.
A Demigod's soul, a Demigod's body, a Demigod's perspective, a Demigod's capacity. For a being like Tony to perfectly master one Infinity Stone, use two simultaneously, and perhaps even grit his teeth and pay a price to wield three, was already an incredibly remarkable feat across the entire Universe.
Countless beings who obtained an Infinity Stone could only stare at it blankly. They didn't dare touch it, because a single touch meant death.
Tony could achieve this only because he had the Allspark to keep things in check. No matter how unruly the Infinity Stones were, they were just trinkets before the Allspark.
It was just that these trinkets contained an immense amount of energy that was difficult to control.
Dracula screamed as he collapsed helplessly. Tony stepped forward slowly, his face expressionless as he placed a hand on Dracula's grotesque head. He gradually applied pressure, and then, brutally twisted it off.
The splattering blood was instantly vaporized by Tony, and the Progenitor Virus within was completely eradicated, ensuring not a single trace of the virus would remain.
A virus is also a lifeform, and it was completely countered by the Allspark. All of the virus was annihilated.
"With this, the only one left on Earth is that half-blood vampire, Victor Strange. If he's harmless, I can let him be, but I'll have to have a talk with that brainless fellow Stephen..."
Tony raised his head, looking up at the sky with a somewhat dazed expression. The azure sky was spotless.
"Once, I promised you I would kill all the Vampires. Now, I've finally, barely, managed to do it..."
Tony murmured to himself in a low voice.
(end of chapter)
