In the mirrored dimension, the battlefield's situation was precisely what Kaylee least desired. Robert's seemingly limitless ability to enhance his combat power had thoroughly confounded him. In the hell dimension, Kaylee had countless ways to restrict Robert, curtailing his growing power through various environmental advantages. However, Robert's ability, while formidable, seemed primarily tied to combat enhancement without excessively bizarre attributes.
Kaylee saw clearly that Robert's method of increasing his combat power was effective only during active battle. If the fight were interrupted, Robert's momentum would wane, and his power would diminish accordingly.
Unfortunately, Kaylee wasn't in his hellish domain. Although his abilities weren't significantly restricted, he couldn't leverage the hell dimension's unique advantages to aid himself.
In this battle, Kaylee found himself thoroughly restrained by Robert, much like how Surtur had been contained by the Avengers. There was no opportunity for him to summon greater powers or utilize special techniques.
Kaylee realized that escaping from the mirrored dimension seemed increasingly improbable, especially as his own combat strength waned due to his injuries. Conversely, Robert's power continued to surge, dramatically reversing the battle's dynamics.
Kaylee had considered various escape strategies, including using the intense battle waves between him and Robert to shatter the mirrored dimension and seize a moment to flee. Kaylee didn't believe Robert possessed any special abilities beyond his formidable combat prowess. If he could escape the mirrored dimension, especially with Clark inexplicably absent, he could potentially evade this crisis.
As for resuming his conquest of Earth, that was a concern for another day. Kaylee's immediate priority was to preserve his current human form and survive this ordeal. Other plans could wait.
However, translating Kaylee's thoughts into action proved far more challenging. The battle's destructive force was indeed immense. Each clash between him and Robert caused the environment around them to undergo dramatic changes.
Yet, Baron Mordo and his associates were not idle. While they couldn't engage directly in combat or withstand the shockwaves, they adeptly maintained the mirrored dimension's stability from behind the scenes.
With several sorcerers working in tandem, the pressure each one faced was reduced, and their long-standing cooperation enhanced their effectiveness. Maintaining Earth's dimensional barriers was a routine task at Kamar-Taj. In the absence of significant disturbances, the Ancient One rarely intervened. The daily maintenance fell to the likes of Baron Mordo and his colleagues, similar to their current task of stabilizing the mirrored dimension.
"Is all our effort to invade Earth going to end in failure like this?" Under these circumstances, Kaylee's frustration grew, and his mind began to wander under Robert's relentless pressure.
"Boom!" Robert didn't miss Kaylee's moment of distraction. Seizing the opportunity, he landed a powerful punch, followed by a ki blast that exploded upon impact, leaving a gaping wound in Kaylee's body.
This was just the beginning. Robert's fists and feet relentlessly pummeled Kaylee, combined with various energy attacks. Kaylee, already at a disadvantage, accumulated more and more injuries with each strike.
Crucially, Kaylee found himself powerless against Robert's onslaught. His combat strength had been surpassed, and his human form lacked any hidden trump cards or defenses. If he had any, he would have used them already, either to defeat Robert or to escape.
"It seems we don't need to contact Superman. This Saiyan's power is extraordinary. He actually defeated a hell lord!" Casillas remarked, watching Robert's performance from the lower layer of the mirrored dimension.
"Indeed, he's strong. But remember, this is Earth, and we're in a mirrored dimension. The Saiyan doesn't have to worry about the hell lord's home-field advantage or the collateral damage of their battle. Otherwise, achieving victory wouldn't be this straightforward," Baron Mordo acknowledged Robert's strength while pointing out the critical factors contributing to his success.
If not for the mirrored dimension, even if Kaylee couldn't defeat Robert, he could certainly avoid the fight. A hell lord had numerous ways to conceal themselves and evade confrontation.
For instance, as Robert unleashed a powerful attack, blowing Kaylee's body to pieces, it seemed like a devastating blow. In reality, it was Kaylee's method of escape, dispersing his body to evade further attacks and seek a way out of the mirrored dimension.
However, Robert, fully focused, wouldn't allow Kaylee such an opportunity. A ki shield rapidly expanded from his hand, enveloping the area and trapping the scattered pieces of Kaylee's flesh within.
This technique, derived from a combination of telekinetic and ki barriers, was perfect for containing Kaylee at this crucial moment. More than just a defensive measure, the barrier began to crush Kaylee's dispersed flesh.
"Pop! Pop! Pop!"
Tiny explosions sounded as chunks of Kaylee's flesh disintegrated within the barrier, turning to dust. This forced the remaining fragments of Kaylee's body to coalesce rapidly. His complexion turned visibly pale, a clear sign of his weakening state.
Kaylee wasn't human, but his pale appearance indicated severe physical depletion. His energy and life force were now critically low, and the gap in combat power between him and Robert had widened significantly.
"I never expected that after coming to Earth, I would end up defeated by someone with no reputation. I thought only the Ancient One could pose a challenge," Kaylee mused, hovering in mid-air, gazing at Robert with a mixture of regret and contemplation.
"The Ancient One? If she were here, you'd have been devoured already," Robert scoffed. He had heard plenty of stories about the Ancient One from Constantine and Clark. He knew her power was on par with Clark's, if not more formidable due to her mastery of magic.
"If you think I'm strong, you haven't seen anything yet. The Ancient One would have annihilated you without breaking a sweat," Robert continued.
"So, who are you? I need to know the name of the one who defeated me..." Kaylee's gaze lingered on Robert, his voice solemn. "I'll return someday, and we'll settle this score. Remember, my true name is—"
"Swoosh!"
"Boom!"
Before Kaylee could finish, Robert launched another attack. A powerful ki blast had been charging since Kaylee started speaking, and it now erupted, triggering the barrier around them to explode.
The blast's force rippled through the mirrored dimension, causing fractures to spread across the reflective surfaces.
"Crack! Crack!"
The mirrored dimension seemed on the verge of collapse, teetering dangerously as if it would shatter completely.
"Damn!"
"Holy crap!"
"Stop yelling and get to work! We can't let the mirrored dimension collapse before we confirm the hell lord's death!" Baron Mordo snapped, quickly regaining his composure. He shouted to rally his companions, unleashing his magical energy to stabilize the dimension.
Mordo understood that if Kaylee died at Robert's hands, it would be a cause for celebration. However, if Kaylee survived but the mirrored dimension shattered, all their efforts would be in vain. The hell lord, once free, might not even flee but could instead wreak havoc, possibly dragging Earth into ruin along with him.
Kaylee's human form might be expendable, but his true self in the hell dimension could survive, even if battered and weakened. This was preferable to Earth's complete destruction.
"Hum! Hum! Hum!"
Casillas and the others snapped back to reality at Mordo's urging. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they channeled their magic with all their might to maintain the mirrored dimension.
For a moment, it seemed as if the dimension would indeed collapse. But Mordo and his team managed to restore it, preventing Kaylee from exploiting the brief opportunity to escape.
Despite the intense onslaught, Kaylee survived. Robert's relentless attacks hadn't been enough to completely extinguish his dwindling power. However, the injuries left Kaylee on the brink of death, unable to continue fighting or escape.
"You... you dare... you dare to ignore me like this..." Kaylee's eyes burned with resentment as he glared at Robert. Although he couldn't see Robert clearly through his blurred vision, he continued to rant, only to be cut off again.
"Bastard! Can't you let me finish my sentence?!"
"Boom!"
Another terrifying ki blast erupted from Robert's hands. He gave no respite, continuously bombarding Kaylee, wearing down his form and psyche.
Kaylee couldn't comprehend why Robert, unlike other enemies, refused to grant him the slightest courtesy of finishing his sentence. This disregard left him frustrated and powerless, particularly as the continuous ki blasts eroded his essence.
With no pauses or mercy, Robert's relentless assault not only obliterated Kaylee's physical form but also finally shattered the mirrored dimension.
"We've lost the mirrored dimension! What about the hell lord?" Baron Mordo and the others paled as the dimension collapsed around them. They quickly sought answers.
"Don't worry, he's dead," Robert replied, exhaling deeply as he reverted from his Fury of the Great Ape form. He smiled reassuringly at the sorcerers. "I made sure he's completely erased. There's no trace of his power left."
"Although I can't speak for his true self in the hell dimension, his human form is thoroughly obliterated. There's no chance he'll rise again. And I have you to thank. Without the mirrored dimension, I couldn't have killed his human form so easily."
"It's nothing. This is our duty. Hell lords invading Earth fall under our jurisdiction. If not for certain rules, he wouldn't have slipped onto Earth so quietly in the first place," Mordo began, but then noticed Robert's expression change abruptly. In a flash, Robert vanished from sight.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]