"So, the current situation is somewhat similar to when that dimensional rift first appeared? Except now, instead of lesser hell demons, we have hell demon kings showing up?" Steve, after hearing Robert's explanation, felt even more worried rather than relieved.
"Does that mean more hell demon kings will keep coming? Will we always be able to detect their presence?"
Previously, the appearance of hell demons alone had already put Earth in significant danger. Though it wasn't as direct as the Shadow incident, the threat they posed was undeniable.
During the last demon incursion, numerous extraordinary individuals had to join forces to counter the threat. Demons, despite their power, lacked the subtlety and concealment of Shadow soldiers, making them easier to detect and handle by extraordinary individuals.
However, hell demon kings were different. Each one posed a potential lethal threat to humanity. If a large number of hell demon kings appeared without anyone stopping them, it would be an apocalyptic disaster!
Moreover, average extraordinary individuals couldn't fight a hell demon king. If the numbers grew, even the combined forces of Earth's defenders wouldn't be enough.
Whether the Hell Dimension had enough demon kings wasn't a concern. The Hell Dimension was even more vast and endless than the current universe. There were countless demon lords, let alone demon kings!
Even a top-tier hell lord like Mephisto wouldn't dare claim he could traverse every corner of the Hell Dimension, let alone know every demon lord of his level.
"The exact situation in the Hell Dimension is still unclear, but it's not easy for a hell demon king to come to Earth. It requires a significant price, especially for them to bring their full power here like the one you fought," Robert reassured Steve.
Robert had a fair understanding of the Hell Dimension. While it could send countless lesser demons to Earth, sending endless demon kings was impossible.
Earth had a dimensional rift, but it wasn't defenseless. There were protective wards preventing other dimensions from invading. Each demon king-level invasion required fulfilling specific rules and conditions. Even Mephisto wasn't exempt, let alone lesser demon kings.
"However, a hell lord might indeed descend. I'll keep an eye on that. You don't need to worry too much. The Ancient One will likely help set up a mirror dimension for the fight, preventing any real-world impact," Robert said with a smile. "You should go back and rest. Kara and I will check the other battlefields..."
Robert hadn't pursued Seladar himself because he wanted to set a trap. Since Seladar and others thought they were lured to Earth, Robert played along, using Seladar as bait to draw out the bigger fish behind the scenes.
After all, giving up their Christmas family trip for a few demon kings wasn't enough for Robert. Demon kings weren't challenging enough for him, not even forcing him to transform, unlike past foes like Ah Fu and the Shadow soldiers.
A hell lord, however, was a worthy opponent. Robert didn't care about the hell lord's schemes. Once he hooked the fish, he would fight the hell lord, with the Ancient One helping with the mirror dimension.
In the mirror dimension, no matter what schemes the hell lord had, they would be useless. The fight would be straightforward: either Robert would kill the hell lord, or the hell lord would kill Robert.
Soon, Robert and Kara left, while Steve and the others returned to the Avengers' base. The physical injuries were secondary; it was the mental exhaustion that was hard to recover from quickly.
Especially for Steve and Bucky, their strength was significantly lacking. Facing a hell demon king required immense mental and physical energy.
Typically, such a being could paralyze normal super soldiers with a mere glance, but Steve and Bucky were special cases.
The super soldier serum enhanced their willpower, and their inherent determination allowed them to stand firm against powerful foes, unless the enemy had specific abilities targeting their mental fortitude.
"Hmm? Lana's battle is already over?" As Robert and Kara headed to the next battlefield, Robert noticed a change in Lana and Clark's situation.
Lana's strength originally surpassed Kara's, but her abilities stemmed from the talismans. Even with multiple talismans' combined mutations, there were limits due to the inherent cap of the talismans and the Shendu.
Kara, with greater potential and more training, had surpassed Lana again. Kara could now defeat a top-tier demon king faster.
Fortunately, Lana wasn't weak either, and with Clark by her side, there was no concern. They had successfully defeated their opponent.
"I'm faster." Kara smiled proudly. She had sparred with Lana before, and surpassing her felt great. If not for the seemingly insurmountable gap with Robert, Kara would have loved to outdo him too.
"There are still three battlefields left: Tony, Pietro, and Johnny. Tony's demon king is nearly defeated, and Pietro's opponent is weakening. Only Johnny's battle seems tough," Robert said, sensing the situation, and headed towards Johnny Storm's battlefield with Kara.
Initially, in Robert's Z Warrior team, Pietro and Lorna combined weren't as strong as Johnny Storm, Susan Storm, and Barry Allen. But with Pietro and Lorna's enhancements, the situation changed.
Even if Peter Parker joined Johnny's team, they wouldn't match Pietro and Lorna unless Peter could wield Mjolnir again, which was unlikely.
On Johnny Storm's battlefield, a massive explosion engulfed a giant monster, showcasing Johnny's explosive firepower. While his flames had less sheer destructive force compared to energy blasts, they were still potent.
However, against the colossal demon king, Johnny's flames couldn't inflict significant damage. The demon king's massive body only showed superficial burns that quickly healed.
The battle had started when Robert first engaged a demon king, and despite the long fight, Johnny, Susan, and Barry hadn't made any substantial progress.
Their attacks were akin to scraping a mountain with a needle.
This was inevitable. Among Johnny, Susan, and Barry, only Johnny could effectively attack the giant demon king. Susan provided support, shielding and camouflaging Johnny and Barry from the demon king's assaults.
Barry, feeling powerless, realized the frustration Pietro often experienced. Previous foes, though formidable, were manageable in size and resilience. This giant demon king, however, had unparalleled defense and vitality.
Barry's speed couldn't penetrate the demon king's defenses, even when amplified. He couldn't use his speed to hurl the demon king away as he did with Ah Fu.
Barry's role was reduced to distracting the demon king, using his speed to create openings for Johnny.
"How long have they been fighting?" Kara asked Robert, eyeing the massive demon king below.
"Several days, I think," Robert replied. From his first encounter, several days had passed, making Johnny's group's prolonged struggle somewhat awkward.
"Are we really just going to let them keep fighting like this? Shouldn't we step in?" Kara felt an urge to join the fight, seeing the ongoing, seemingly futile efforts.
"They're gaining experience and refining their abilities," Robert shrugged, smiling. "Besides, they aren't losing. The demon king hasn't harmed them either. Keeping the demon king contained is an accomplishment."
"Okay, I get it. You don't like stealing others' victories," Kara pouted. She understood Robert didn't intervene because he wanted to nurture the others and didn't see the demon king as a significant threat.
The battle continued under Robert and Kara's watch. Compared to Steve's "I can do this all day" stamina, the ability users like Johnny showed more endurance.
Their powers acted like continuous attacks, and their ability to recover energy outpaced Steve and Bucky's stamina.
Thus, the fight persisted even after Tony Stark and Pietro had defeated their respective demon kings. Robert and Kara, watching the battle, celebrated New Year's in the process, ushering in 2011.
"I didn't expect this battle to last so long," Robert remarked. It wasn't just him and Kara; other Avengers members also noticed the prolonged fight and came to watch.
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