Ch.233 Fierce Battle

Ronan stared at the Kang in front of him, his expression a weird mix.

He wanted to laugh but held it in.

This Kang struck him as kinda dim.

At the same time, it proved something—future-time-hopping Kang or not, he didn't know Ronan's past.

He had no clue what Ronan had been through.

Kang, meanwhile, frowned at Ronan's odd look.

Why the weird face?

Did Ronan have a way to crack this force field?

No—impossible.

Per the council, this field did counter the Space Stone.

Not for long, but long enough.

Anywhere else, it might flop.

Here, in the magic-dead TVA? Ronan was stuck with his gear.

"Fine, since you're so cocky, I'll give you a shot."

"Perfect chance to test this suit anyway."

Ronan wagged a finger at Kang, not pulling out his Infinity Gauntlet.

He didn't want to scare Kang to death.

Plus, like he said, he wanted to field-test Tony Stark's handiwork.

Guys, right?

New toy in hand—gotta show it off.

Kang went quiet, puzzled by Ronan's confidence.

No Space Stone, no magic—just that relic of a suit. What could it do?

Yup, like he'd said—Ronan's armor was ancient history to him.

In his era, he wouldn't spare it a glance.

Still, Kang didn't slack.

Reputation's shadow looms large.

In his time, Ronan's legends—and knack for screwing the "script"—kept Kang on edge.

He stayed sharp.

"You're not swinging first? Guess I will."

"Your suit's so advanced, me going first isn't bullying."

Seeing Kang stall, Ronan didn't want to drag it out.

Bigger fish to fry.

Words barely out, Kang blinked—Ronan, dozens of meters away, was suddenly right there!

That speed caught Kang off guard.

He'd pegged Ronan as a melee beast, but not this fast!

Kang wasn't slow either.

A thought, and his clear helmet snapped over his head.

His black face turned purple.

"Huh?"

"Thanos' cousin?"

Ronan smirked at the sight.

Same instant, a massive energy burst erupted from Kang, blasting outward.

Ronan, mid-charge, screeched to a halt—legs straining, ground gouged beneath him.

Buzz!

Left hand up, a transparent energy shield popped in front.

Bang!

Kang's blue energy slammed the shield, carving twin trenches in the floor.

Seizing the moment, Kang clenched his right fist—an energy cannon roared at Ronan.

Boom!

The shield shattered.

Ronan flipped two-and-a-half times midair, dodging the blast.

The cannon punched through, cratering the wall behind in a cloud of dust!

"This is your office, man."

"You don't care at all?"

Ronan tossed the jab, not waiting for a reply, and raised both hands at Kang.

Beep-beep-beep.

Palm cannons charged—two golden beams blasted out!

Kang spread his arms—a clear ring flared up, blocking the shots at a safe distance.

More rings spun up behind him.

Next second, Kang raised his right hand and slammed it down.

A blue beam smashed the ceiling—giant chunks rained down on Ronan, juiced by the energy.

"Tch, fast bastard."

Ronan clicked his tongue, but he wasn't slow.

A thought, and the assist system kicked in.

Four mechanical arms sprouted from his back.

They whirred around once—centers glowing.

"Enjoy the fireworks!"

Ronan grinned, ducking low, back to the sky!

Boom!

A blast shot from his back, pulverizing the falling rocks.

Shards rained down as the arms detached, morphing into C-shaped drones charging Kang!

Kang squinted—his rear rings met them head-on.

But—surprise—the C-drones sparked with fierce current on impact!

Then—explosion!

Flames swallowed the rings.

Ronan, somehow, was already behind Kang.

Bang!

Right elbow smashed Kang's neck.

Hands clamped his shoulders—squeezed hard.

Crack.

A sharp snap—Kang's shoulders shattered under Ronan's grip!

Not done yet.

Pain-wracked Kang heard another crunch.

His waist—Ronan's knee slammed it.

With Ronan's strength, Kang was half-dead already.

"AH!!!!"

Kang's scream echoed through the room.

Ronan didn't let up.

Right arm snaked around Kang's neck—classic chokehold time.

Boom!

Before he could lock it, energy erupted from Kang again.

The blast flung Ronan back, catching him in midair fireworks.

Free of Ronan's grip, Kang dropped to one knee.

Eyes wide, breathing ragged.

Shoulder and waist pain drenched him in sweat—evaporated fast by his suit, but still telling.

In the dust, Ronan burst out, somersaulted two-and-a-half times, and landed clean.

[Warning, Warning.]

[Right arm damage detected. Chest damage detected.]

[Rear mechanical arms lost.]

[No skeletal damage. Minor organ vibration, no harm.]

[Current energy: 66%]

Assist system rattled off the status.

Ronan glanced at his suit—right arm cracked, chest gouged, just like it said.

That blast wasn't harmless—the suit ate it all.

"Activate repair."

Ronan thought it—repair kicked in.

The suit was designed light, defense trimmed but not gutted.

Still had backup.

Ronan didn't get nanotech, but Tony'd stashed repair bits inside.

Added a smidge of weight, sure.

Upside? Damage could heal—given time.

In a pinch, undamaged parts could sub in.

Energy ticked down as the suit patched itself bit by bit.

Dust cleared—Ronan clocked Kang again.

Half-kneeling Kang stood, no trace of his earlier mess.

Looked pristine.

"Oh?"

"Guess your suit's got some edge there."

Ronan raised a brow—he knew Kang's injuries were gone.

He'd dished them out himself—severe stuff.

Steve Rogers taking that? Half-hour sans treatment, he's bed-or-wheelchair-bound for life.

Modern tech curing it? Fat chance.

But Kang? Self-fixed in under thirty seconds.

That suit had chops—Tony'd drool over it.

"Real talk—only now do I see we still underestimated you."

"I knew Kamar-Taj's close combat was nuts."

"Didn't think this nuts."

Kang stared at Ronan, face a mixed bag.

His jumbled feelings spilled out.

They'd prepped near-perfect for Ronan.

Magic-dead zone—Vishanti link cut, spells trashed.

Force field locked out the Space Stone.

Top-tier tech in Kang's corner—Ronan shouldn't stand a chance.

Fifty-fifty, minimum.

But round one? Ronan's fight game blew past Kang's guesses.

All their plans? Scrap paper now.

"Up against this strong me, time to show your trump card."

"Real talk—if that's your best, killing me ain't happening."

Not Ronan bragging.

Kang could heal fast—sure, but that took energy, right?

Even with juice, it took time, yeah?

Those injuries—just three seconds, and Ronan'd finish him.

"I know."

"But that was just round one, wasn't it?"

Kang spread his arms again, dead serious now.

Zzt-zzt-zzt.

A faint electric hum buzzed.

Ronan tilted his head—sound came and went fast.

He half-thought he'd misheard.

Then his face shifted.

Assist system dropped a bad update!

[Unknown interference detected.]

[Suit energy drain accelerating!]

[Estimated depletion: 30 seconds.]

Now Ronan saw it—sparks flickered on the floor.

No—not sparks.

Looked like it, but the system ID'd it.

[Magnetic field!]

"Electromagnetic amplifier—old tech, sure, but generations refined it into something new."

Kang watched Ronan, casually explaining his move.

Electromagnetic amplifier?

Ronan wasn't a tech nerd, but the system was.

Closest match it had: magnetic amplifier.

Beep-beep-beep.

Before he could read more, the suit chirped—then collapsed back into a bracelet.

Ronan frowned—yup, this "amplifier" was the energy-drain culprit.

Rough guess: EM interference jacked the suit's power draw.

One percent to run normally? Now ten, maybe a hundred times that.

If so, his suit was toast.

Per the system, modern tech had no fix.

As Ronan mulled, purple light flared in Kang's hands again.

"Gotta say, this relic's got some juice."

"Tony Stark was a genius."

"If he'd lived in my time, he might've been huge."

"But now…"

Kang paused, eyeing Ronan.

"Without that antique, you planning to tank my hits with your body?"