Failed Successully

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Seeing Tony's frustrated look, Kai couldn't help but feel amused. Winning over Tony — even indirectly — always felt satisfying.

As Tony resumed his barrage of missiles at Hulk and Abomination, Kai called out, "Tony, come back for a second! That's not working — they'll just keep fighting like this."

Tony sighed but flew back and landed beside Kai. "Got any bright ideas? I'd like to finish this before my next vacation gets canceled."

Kai grinned. "You know, I've mentioned before — they're built like tanks. If their physical defense is a thousand, their magic resistance is... well, about one."

Tony blinked. "Wait... seriously? So you're telling me you can just magic them into submission?"

Kai straightened his posture, placing one hand behind his back like some wise old hermit. "Exactly."

Tony stared at him. "So... do it."

Kai's confident smile faltered. "Well... I still need you to distract them. I'll need the right moment to take them both down at once."

"Are you kidding me?" Tony gave him a doubtful look.

"It's true! Now get over there and give me some cover!" Kai insisted, practically shooing Tony back toward the battlefield.

With a long sigh, Tony muttered, "I better get a drink after this," before jetting off to continue his assault.

Kai quietly maneuvered to the side, waiting for his chance.

During the chaos, Abomination slammed Hulk hard enough to send him skidding across the street. Abomination, still pumped with whatever Samuel had injected him with, let out a roar and charged after him. He landed blow after blow on Hulk, who gritted his teeth and weathered the storm.

But as Abomination eased up for a moment, Hulk suddenly countered with a powerful kick that sent Abomination flying — right toward Tony.

"Whoa!" Tony barely dodged in time, narrowly avoiding becoming a pancake.

Hulk charged after Abomination, grabbed a nearby car, and slammed it down on his opponent. The two beasts then locked fists and started pounding away at each other, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Hey, Kai!" Tony shouted from above. "Anytime now would be great!"

"On it!" Kai called back. He pulled out his wand, eyes narrowing as he waited for the perfect moment.

When Hulk and Abomination briefly broke apart, Kai seized his chance. He cast a flurry of spells, weaving magic circles in rapid succession.

Moments later, Tony landed beside Kai, staring in disbelief at the two frozen figures — solid blocks of ice with their fists still raised mid-swing.

"Wow..." Tony muttered, tapping one of the ice sculptures. "Did you seriously just freeze them like that?"

Kai smirked. "Not just ice. First, I hit their minds with a paralysis spell, locking their consciousness. Then I froze them once they couldn't resist."

To demonstrate, Kai confidently walked between Hulk and Abomination's frozen fists. "See? Totally safe now."

But before Kai could finish his sentence, a deafening roar erupted. In a flash, the ice around Hulk shattered violently. His frozen fist lurched forward, continuing the interrupted punch — aimed directly at Kai.

Kai barely had time to react. He began opening a portal but knew he wouldn't make it in time.

'Too late...'

Bracing himself, Kai summoned the remaining spatial energy within his body and wrapped it around himself like armor. He couldn't fully complete the technique, but it was his best shot.

Hulk's punch connected, sending Kai flying dozens of meters through the air.

Tony's eyes widened. "Kai!"

Kai groaned as he hit the ground, his body aching from head to toe. Yet... surprisingly, he was still intact.

He staggered to his feet, confused. The pain was real, but something felt... different.

Checking himself, Kai realized that his body had absorbed traces of the spatial energy he'd been channeling. Somehow, the impact had triggered his body's ability to refine and integrate that power, enhancing his durability.

Kai's eyes flicked back to Hulk, who was now chasing Tony across the sky.

"Well... that's new," Kai muttered to himself.

"Hey!" Tony's voice called out from above. "Are you still in one piece?"

"Yeah!" Kai shouted back. "I think I just leveled up!"

"Oh, great!" Tony's sarcasm rang loud and clear. "Next time, maybe 'don't' test it by letting Hulk punch you!"

Kai grinned. "Fair point."

"So... what's Plan B?" Tony asked, still weaving through the air to dodge Hulk's swipes.

Kai clenched his fists and smiled confidently. "Don't worry... this time, I've got a better idea."

Rolling up his sleeves, Kai motioned for Tony to clear some space. Then he stepped forward, eyes locked on Hulk.

"Alright, big guy... round two."

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