Nax knew well the trouble Robert posed. His strategy hinged on converting the Avengers into his minions, enhancing the power of his domain and himself. Only then could he confidently confront Robert and perhaps even capture him, turning Robert into another trophy in his collection.
Just like a spider weaving its web to trap prey, Nax, on the path to becoming a Spider Demon God, excelled in these tactics. Since his appearance, every move had been part of an intricate, layered plan. Whether previous schemes succeeded or failed, each attempt laid the groundwork for future opportunities.
With a "shhh," Robert noticed Nax's maneuvers and quickly moved to rescue the Avengers. However, the space around Robert turned into a quagmire, slowing his progress. By the time Robert unleashed his power to break through, it was almost too late.
On the other side, the Avengers were being dragged into another layer of this space, alongside the Spider-Men. The difference was that the Avengers had not yet been transformed into Spider-Men...
"Crack!"
Seeing the Avengers' plight, a flash of anger crossed Robert's eyes. He activated the transformation into Great Ape Rage mode instantly. His energy exploded, shattering everything around him. When Robert unleashed his full power and destructive potential without restraint, the entire space trembled, struggling to hold together.
On Earth, Robert always restrained his power during battles, careful not to cause excessive destruction. Earth's space could withstand his energy, but the physical world couldn't endure it for long.
Now, in Nax's domain, Robert had no such concerns. Destroying this space would allow them to return to normalcy. In a normal space, he wouldn't worry about the Avengers' safety because their battle would inevitably prompt the Ancient One to create a Mirror Dimension, making it impossible for Nax to weave his sinister webs.
"What?!" Nax's expression changed sharply as he sensed Robert's escalating power. Robert had been formidable before, but now his transformed state was terrifying. Nax realized that his avatar couldn't contain Robert, let alone capture and convert him into a subordinate!
"How can Earth harbor such a powerful being? Can Earth withstand such force?" The thought flickered through Nax's mind briefly before he refocused. He quickly manipulated his space, attempting to stabilize it by leveraging the Avengers and Spider-Men.
"Crack!"
But Nax's efforts were too slow. Robert's destructive speed outpaced him, and the space centered around Nax began to shatter, revealing the true Earth beyond.
Unlike the previous sub-space disruption, this space, built on Nax's toxins and dimensional power, wasn't a part of Earth's spatial fabric but an overlay on Earth's dimension. The former coexisted within Earth's space, while the latter merely adhered to it like a thin layer, vastly different in stability and nature.
As the space broke apart, Nax's face twisted. With a thought, he instantly teleported the Spider-Men army and the controlled Peter Parker and Harry Osborn away. The Avengers, freed from Nax's control, also fell back into the normal space, regaining their freedom.
Despite the space collapsing, Robert continued to release his power, allowing the Mirror Dimension to form around them. While this formation went unnoticed by the Avengers, both Robert and Nax felt the spatial changes. Nax, realizing this, sent his army and the controlled duo away to prevent further interference.
Nax planned to unleash the Spider-Men and Peter Parker onto the world to infect more humans, expanding his influence and power on Earth. This would not only divert Robert's attention but also increase Nax's strength.
Aware of Robert's power, Nax knew he couldn't win a direct confrontation on Earth. But he still had opportunities. His initial plan could proceed...
Releasing the Spider-Men, he knew the Avengers couldn't just watch. With their teammates and the broader threat to humanity, they had no choice but to engage.
As more ordinary people became Spider-Men, Nax's power would grow, allowing him to better contend with Robert. Besides, Nax believed that the sheer numbers of his Spider-Men army could eventually overwhelm the Avengers.
"Ancient One, you're renowned across the multiverse. I haven't properly greeted you since arriving on Earth..." Nax's eyes gleamed as he addressed the space above, smiling. He wasn't worried about the Ancient One attacking because he understood her boundaries from encounters in other universes.
"Sorry, but Earth doesn't welcome dimensional intruders. While your presence is within the rules, it doesn't grant you free reign here!" A calm voice echoed around them.
"So, are you going to fight me?" Nax asked, raising an eyebrow and looking around the Mirror Dimension with a smirk. "Or are you going to stop the crisis I've brought?"
"No, you're not worth my effort unless your true form arrives with full power," the Ancient One appeared in the air, disdainfully looking at Nax.
"Ancient One?" Nax's confusion was evident as he looked at her. As a dimensional being familiar with many universes, he had seen numerous versions of the Ancient One, male and female, but never as a young girl.
Of course, for beings of such power, appearance was trivial. The key was their aura. Other Ancient Ones exuded an aura of high mastery, at least outwardly.
But this universe's Ancient One lacked that. If not for her deep, inscrutable energy, Nax might have thought he was being deceived by one of her disciples...
"I despise your gaze! Saiyan, give him a few extra punches for me!" The Ancient One, annoyed by Nax's look, turned to Robert. "And the Avengers need to leave. The Spider-Men army and controlled Peter Parker are already on the move. Superman and the others are trying to stop them, and you should help too!"
"Got it!" Tony Stark and the others didn't hesitate. The earlier events had shown them that staying would only be a burden. Fighting the Spider-Men would at least allow them to contribute.
With a "buzz," the Ancient One swiftly transported the Avengers out of the Mirror Dimension, leaving Nax watching without attempting to stop them. Everything was going according to his plan.
The Ancient One hadn't intervened directly. Nax only needed to keep Robert occupied, allowing his plan to unfold perfectly...
"Can you reinforce this space a bit? I'm ready to unleash my fury! This guy's previous tricks really annoyed me!" With the Avengers gone, Robert's eyes gleamed with a chilling light. He grinned viciously at Nax.
"Swish!" Robert didn't wait for the Ancient One's response. He vanished from his spot, his violent aura shaking everything around. The Ancient One quickly fortified the space, knowing the first clash could otherwise tear it apart from within.
"It's rare to see him more furious than eager for battle. This spider really..." The Ancient One shook her head at Nax. She had seen Robert fight many times, always driven by a passion for battle. But now, after the recent events, Robert's desire to fight had turned into a burning rage. He only wanted to crush Nax completely.
"Swish!" Robert appeared in front of Nax in the next instant. Despite Nax's towering, half-spider form, Robert's fist lashed out. Nax responded quickly, thrusting his claws at Robert, hoping to counter-attack and turn the tide.
"Bang!" Their clash was intense, with Robert's fist colliding with Nax's claws. Nax's body trembled as his claws bent under the force, but he didn't relent. He directed more claws at Robert.
Nax had eight claws, each glowing with different energy. But even faced with such a multi-faceted attack, Robert showed no intent to dodge or retreat. His furious energy turned into tangible flames, enveloping him as his fists continually pounded away, blocking all of Nax's claws.
With each successive impact, Nax's claws deformed and even broke. Robert's relentless assault finally landed a direct hit on Nax's body.
"Boom!" Nax's large form was sent flying, now looking ragged. He knew Robert was strong, but he hadn't expected him to overpower him so quickly.
In their brief clash, Nax realized Robert's combat skills far exceeded his expectations. No matter what tactics he used, Robert countered them flawlessly. Even Nax's more cunning tricks, relying on various energies, couldn't faze Robert. Robert's surrounding energy flames neutralized every one of Nax's sneak attacks.
"Wham!"
As Nax reeled from the blow, a powerful energy wave from Robert struck him, piercing his spider-like lower body and leaving a massive hole.
"Drip!"
"Drip!"
Drops of blood, filled with terrifying power, fell to the ground, corroding it into large pits. Any living being that touched these drops would either die instantly or be transformed into a new spider-based creature.
"Buzz!" Despite the severe injury, Nax wasn't in mortal danger. He took a deep breath, his energy flowing, rapidly healing his body.
Fortunately for Nax, this wasn't his actual body but Richard Parker's, modified into Nax's human form. Repairing this body didn't cost much of Nax's energy and wouldn't significantly impact his combat capabilities...
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