Ch.140 Was the Intelligence Gap Overwhelming Too?
Is it because you are too weak?
Is it because you are too weak.
Is it because you are too—
Is it because you—
"Enough!!!"
Ronan's final words echoed like a haunting chime, making Vini deeply uncomfortable.
What do you mean by we are too weak?
"We rallied the entire strength of Earth to resist Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension."
"And now you're telling me that all our efforts were for nothing?"
At this point, Vini could no longer remain calm.
Because that one sentence from Ronan nearly invalidated all their struggles.
This was something Vini could not accept!
"No, no, I absolutely didn't mean that."
"You see, Ronan is just someone who likes to tell it like it is."
"Maybe it's not because you're weak. Perhaps you're just not smart enough?"
"Does it sound better that way?"
Ronan waved his hands dismissively, but the message in his tone was clear—
You are very self-aware!
Of course, someone as tactful as Ronan wouldn't put it so bluntly, so his words were quite…gentle.
That's why Ronan always recommended his friends learn from his way of speaking.
"You—"
Vini pointed at Ronan, trembling with anger, words failing her.
Even the hand she used to point at Ronan was shaking.
Seeing Vini like this, Ronan shook his head and sighed.
She couldn't even handle this level of "high emotional intelligence" dialogue. Clearly, Vini wasn't someone who could accept feedback gracefully.
Of course, Ronan wasn't the type to give up easily.
If he couldn't persuade her, he could at least practice his talk-no-jutsu.
That's a staple move for many protagonists.
"Don't get so worked up. We are reasonable people, aren't we?"
"Let's go back to the example I just mentioned."
"That Strange guy—the one you beat up so badly he's still lying in bed."
"That weakling managed to handle Dormammu all by himself."
"And yet, even after gathering all the strength of Earth, you could only make Dormammu sign such an unfair treaty. Comparing the two, doesn't it make you feel…"
This time, Ronan didn't finish his sentence, instead using hand gestures.
The classic pinch of the fingers—a gesture certain countries absolutely despised.
Oh no… there goes another batch of fans from that country.
"Enough! Enough! Enough!"
"Even if what you say is true, that we're not smart enough or strong enough,"
"But as long as I kill you, I can restore peace to our Earth!"
"Do it!"
At this moment, Vini's fury could no longer be contained.
Without a doubt, Ronan's words had once again struck her sore spot!
A man she had easily defeated had outsmarted Dormammu with wisdom alone.
All those years resisting Dormammu—did they mean nothing?
Were they just a joke?
At the same time, just as Vini shouted "do it," Peter Parker, who had been hiding behind Ronan, suddenly sprang into action.
He plunged a syringe directly into Ronan's waist!
In an instant, the liquid in the syringe emptied into Ronan's body.
Feeling the sharp pain at his waist, Ronan turned his head in disbelief, glaring at Peter.
Peter quickly retreated, putting distance between them.
Three seconds.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Time trickled by, and Peter looked toward Vini, puzzled.
Wasn't it supposed to work within three seconds?
Still, he remained cautious, keeping his eyes locked on Ronan.
Thus, Ronan glared at Peter, while Peter remained on high alert.
The two just stared at each other.
It was like they were waiting for someone to say:
F**k you looking at?
Yeah, I'm staring at you. What are you gonna do about it?
Time passed, more than half a minute, yet the poison inside Ronan seemed to have no effect.
Peter grew increasingly anxious.
He had witnessed Ronan's power firsthand—minutes ago, he had personally experienced it.
If the toxin didn't work, Peter would undoubtedly be the first to die!
Everyone knows you can spare the enemy, but the traitor gets dealt with first.
"You actually—"
Ronan, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
His right hand trembled as he raised it, pointing at Peter.
Peter pressed his lips shut, his eyelashes fluttering.
Through his eyes, one could see the inner turmoil.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Peter muttered under his breath, too quiet for anyone but himself to hear.
No matter what, this was the choice he had to make.
Ronan was a murderer. So many people had died because of him.
To uphold justice… to avenge the fallen…
Peter had to convince himself of that.
"I never thought… never thought…"
"I, Ronan, would be… stabbed in the back by a comrade I fought alongside…"
"And the one to stab me… would be someone I saved."
Ronan's trembling finger pointed at Peter, and at just the right moment, blood trickled down from his lips.
His confused eyes and regretful expression seemed to silently question Peter.
Why did you do this?
"That's impossible!"
"We never fought alongside each other. You're just trying to deceive me."
"In my memories, we… we…"
But before Peter could say "never met"—he paused.
A memory flashed before him—something Aunt May had once mentioned.
When Aunt May regained consciousness and learned Peter was trying to kill Ronan, she had said something similar.
That Ronan had once fought alongside Peter.
At the time, Peter dismissed it, thinking Aunt May was just confused.
But now… with Ronan repeating those words… doubt crept in.
"Yeah… that's right…"
"It's normal that you don't remember."
"After all… Strange's memory spell is… quite strong…"
Cough…
As Ronan spoke, he suddenly spat out blood—this time, right at Peter's feet.
Staring at the crimson droplets on the ground, Peter froze.
Memory spell?
Strange?
For a split second, something clicked.
In an instant, Peter Parker felt like he remembered something.
"Rest easy. I'll take care of Aunt May and MJ for you."
"That alien, Ebony Maw, was simply overwhelmed by my charm."
"Your wife and children, I will raise them."
One familiar scene after another flashed through Peter Parker's mind.
He recalled his stunned expression at the time and the sight of Ronan saving them.
It all felt…
Familiar, yet strange!
"No… impossible… impossible…"
Peter Parker muttered to himself, repeating it over and over.
But this time, the conviction in his voice was gone.
Pfft.
At that moment, Ronan spat out another mouthful of blood. The hand pointing at Peter Parker drooped limply.
His head tilted back, eyes gazing toward the sky as his body slowly began to collapse backward.
"Ah, I'm dead!"
The moment he uttered those words, he fell straight to the ground.
Dead… dead?
As Ronan's body hit the ground, MJ and Ned arrived at Peter Parker's side.
The two clung to Peter's arms from either side, as if afraid Ronan might suddenly rise from the dead—or maybe to comfort Peter.
After all, killing someone wasn't something Peter Parker had done often.
But for some reason, everyone present felt like Ronan's death seemed a little…
Rushed?
Sloppy?
Or just exaggerated?
Regardless, Ronan lay there, stiff as a board.
The syringe once lodged in his lower back had somehow fallen to the ground nearby.
"No… no!!!"
Seeing Ronan's lifeless form, Peter Parker broke free from MJ and Ned's grasp and rushed to Ronan.
But it was too late—Ronan's eyes were already closed.
Peter hurried to check his breathing.
Nothing.
Then his pulse.
Also gone!
This could only mean… Ronan was dead!
"Peter!"
At that moment, Aunt May somehow appeared at the scene.
When she saw Peter kneeling in front of Ronan's body, the words she wanted to say caught in her throat.
Because all the memories had finally aligned.
Those memories weren't wrong. Peter had genuinely told her these things.
But now, it seemed… everything was too late.
Vini slowly approached, her face full of satisfaction as she gazed at Ronan's fallen body.
For so many years, she had lived with one goal—killing Ronan.
Now, Ronan was truly dead before her eyes.
She could finally fulfill her wish, taking Ronan's corpse to Dormammu to complete their final contract.
"Step aside."
Vini spoke softly.
There was no doubt—she was speaking to Peter Parker.
She intended to retrieve Ronan's body and seal the deal with Dormammu.
"You lied to me!"
Peter Parker raised his head, fury burning in his eyes.
But Vini just smiled.
"When did I lie to you?"
"I brought Aunt May back to life, and in exchange, you helped me kill Ronan."
"This was our deal. At what point did I deceive you?"
Vini chuckled, looking at Peter Parker.
At this moment, her thoughts were almost perfectly aligned with Ronan's.
She held no regard for this naïve boy standing in front of her.
If not for needing Peter to deal the final blow to Ronan, she wouldn't have wasted her breath.
"He wasn't a murderer!"
Peter Parker's face twisted with defiance.
"So what if he was? So what if he wasn't?"
"The deal was—you kill Ronan, and I bring Aunt May back."
"Who Ronan was—good or evil—has nothing to do with the deal."
Vini reiterated their transaction.
Peter Parker had no response.
She was right. Their deal had always been Aunt May's life in exchange for Ronan's death.
That was the foundation of everything.
Sure, the belief that Ronan was a 'villain' was the final push Peter needed.
But even without that, would Peter really have refused, knowing Aunt May could stay dead?
Peter Parker didn't know.
Because he couldn't bring himself to think about it.
No matter how he rationalized it, the outcome was the same.
He alone would bear the pain.
"I won't let you take him."
"I will defeat you… and let the law judge me for what I've done."
Peter Parker rose to his feet, locking eyes with Vini.
If he had done wrong, he would pay for it.
If he could beat Vini, he would surrender for killing Ronan.
Whether that meant life imprisonment or execution—it was his responsibility to bear.
But Vini only laughed.
BOOM!
Without a word, she blasted Peter Parker across the battlefield.
Even though Peter raised his arms to block, he still couldn't withstand the attack.
Because he had no idea what kind of attack it was!
As Peter tumbled through the air, Vini smirked.
"With your strength?"
As she finished, her gaze returned to Ronan's body.
But then, something shocking happened.
Ronan's body… vanished!
She scanned the area frantically, especially near Peter Parker, but there was no sign of Ronan.
The body had disappeared into thin air?
Or…
Vini spun around to check behind her.
Sure enough, Ronan was sitting there.
On the Green Goblin's glider.
"Too bad… you were this close to winning."
"My clone's performance may have been a bit over the top when dying, but overall, it wasn't bad."
"At least… with your intelligence, you didn't notice."
Ronan grinned at Vini, delivering the ultimate verbal smackdown.
Clone?
Performance?
Hearing those words, Vini's face twisted in disbelief.
She couldn't believe she had been tricked by Ronan!
She wasn't careless—it was just that Ronan's Eikorn's Form was leagues apart from hers.
Ronan's spells… were just a little bit… better.
"Honestly, I thought you were lying to gain Peter Parker's sympathy."
"But wow… I never imagined…"
"You're actually just stupid."
Ronan shook his head at Vini.
It wasn't even a taunt—it was a genuine observation.
Hearing Vini's backstory earlier, Ronan thought she was fabricating it.
But after his clone tested her, the anger she showed wasn't fake.
That's when Ronan realized…
Oh, she really is dumb!
"Shut up!"
"You shut up!"
Vini rubbed her hands together, conjuring the classic Kamar-Taj energy saw, and hurled it fiercely at Ronan.
Uh-oh. She's mad now!
Crack!
The energy saw smashed in front of Ronan as if hitting a pane of glass.
The next second, Ronan and Vini were pulled directly into the Mirror Dimension.
A mist gradually cleared from Vini's vision, and for a brief moment, her pupils dilated.
In the next instant, her expression returned to normal.
This was Ronan's domain, and he had chosen a place that Vini was all too familiar with.
Of course—it was the same place Strange used to grind his skills.
Dormammu's Dark Dimension!
Where they stood, Dormammu's enormous face loomed vividly in the background.
"It's you!!!"
"You dare trespass into my Dark Dimension!"
As soon as the two landed, Dormammu's harsh voice rang out.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Vini's face filled with terror.
It was this creature that had swallowed their entire Earth into the Dark Dimension.
How did I end up here?
Could Dormammu have used some technique she wasn't aware of?
"Yo, Dormammu! Long time no see."
"I heard you were looking for me, so I thought I'd swing by to see what you wanted."
Ronan waved casually at Dormammu, his face relaxed—showing not a hint of tension.
Vini was stunned.
That's Dormammu, man!
Why are you greeting him like he's your neighbor?
"Then allow me to crush you first, and explain after!"
Dormammu roared, manifesting a massive hand that descended from the sky.
BOOM!
A deafening crash echoed.
Vini was sent flying from her spot.
Smash!
Three seconds later, she hit the ground.
Along with her fall came confusion and bewilderment.
Weren't you two just arguing and about to fight?
Why am I the one getting attacked?
I didn't even say anything!
"Oh come on, Dormammu! Is that all you've got?"
"Your last attack didn't even knock off a single hair. Is that it? Is that all you've got?"
At that moment, Ronan's taunting voice rang out again.
"You damn human! I swear, you will taste the greatest fear this world has to offer!"
"I will tear you apart in ten thousand ways!"
Dormammu bellowed once more, and countless spikes erupted from the ground.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Swish swish swish!
As the spikes appeared, Vini swiftly dodged—barely evading them just in time.
However, defense is bound to slip up eventually.
Squelch.
Moments later, her dodging wasn't fast enough, and a spike grazed her right arm.
Blood spurted from the wound.
As she glanced around, Ronan appeared to be dodging the attacks as well.
But strangely… Vini couldn't shake the feeling that the spikes aimed at Ronan were… slower?
What baffled her even more—Ronan was now hopping around right next to Dormammu's mouth.
Dormammu could literally swallow him whole by just opening his mouth!
Why all the unnecessary theatrics?
And why… why am I the only one getting hurt?!
"Enough! This is enough!"
"Dormammu, have you forgotten our deal?"
"I brought Ronan to you! You must fulfill your promise!"
Vini clutched her wounded arm, eyes wide as she glared at Dormammu.
Something feels off…
But she couldn't pinpoint what.
Just as she finished speaking, an eerie silence blanketed the entire "Dark Dimension."
Vini stared at Dormammu. Dormammu stared at Vini.
The two locked eyes.
Seconds passed…
"Pfft."
He laughed.
Dormammu laughed!
Vini's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Because the one laughing wasn't Ronan—it was Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension!
Dormammu actually laughed out loud???
What the hell is happening?
"Pfft—cough—cough."
"I—cough—of course I remember our—pfft—deal."
"I—"
"Hahaha!"
Vini's entire worldview shattered.
Dormammu—the embodiment of fear, darkness, and villainy—was laughing???
And not just a chuckle. A full-blown belly laugh.
No way. Impossible!
Vini instinctively thought she was hallucinating.
This isn't Dormammu's character at all!
But the reality was undeniable.
Dormammu wasn't just laughing—he was rolling around on the ground while doing so.
Vini saw Dormammu's massive face flopping onto the ground, rolling back and forth, laughing uncontrollably.
Rolling. Laughing. Why is he laughing?!
Meanwhile, Ronan stood quietly nearby, shoulders shaking, his face hidden as he tried to stifle his laughter.
Finally, after a few moments…
"Hahahahahaha!"
Ronan joined in the laughter.
The two voices harmonized, echoing together in the air, creating a symphony of ridicule that drilled into Vini's ears.
The infamous Double Laughter Mental Assault!
This wasn't just auditory torture—it was emotional devastation.
Vini felt her intelligence was being mocked.
Why is this happening to me?
She even started questioning her life choices.
Why does the universe torment me with these people over and over?
The worst part—this was happening right in front of her eyes.
"Sorry, sorry. That was unprofessional of me. I forgot about actor integrity."
"Let's reset and try again."
"Ahem."
Dormammu's form returned to its usual imposing figure, floating back into the air.
"Of course, I remember our deal. Now, tell me… what is your dream?"
Dormammu's stern face was back.
But Vini couldn't take it anymore.
"Ronan! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"