If it weren't for her enhanced diamond skin possessing astonishing defensive capabilities, perhaps she would have already been chopped into a pile of minced meat. Compared to the White Queen's formidable defense, the others were faring far worse. They could only rely on teleportation abilities, constantly dodging, struggling to escape danger, and looking utterly disheveled.
The Transformers conjured through the Green Lantern Ring were far more powerful than the original versions. Even if their bodies were destroyed, as long as Robert remained alive, they could be instantly repaired. The three Apocalypse Knights had initially managed to hold their own through cooperation. But now that Robert had more forces than they did, their weakness in individual strength was laid bare. They were overwhelmed by a relentless assault from multiple powerful Transformers summoned by the Green Lantern Ring.
This was the terrifying potential of the Green Lantern Ring.
As long as the willpower is sufficient and the imagination vast, any power can be materialized. And when it comes to imagination, Robert feared no one in the entire world. Even though the Five Great Gods were technically stronger, they could not compare to Robert in terms of sheer imaginative capability. Behind him stood a world filled with thousands upon thousands of imaginative works.
"The bugs have all been dealt with. Now, only you remain," Robert said, his eyes locking onto Apocalypse.
Apocalypse showed no signs of anger. It was as if the deaths of the three Apocalypse Knights had nothing to do with him. "Child, I believe you are mistaken about one thing," he said with a calm, smiling face. "To me, they are merely extensions of my power. By allowing me to witness this wondrous strength, they have already demonstrated their value. I believe their lives were very meaningful. Now, I find myself increasingly interested in your body."
Robert shivered inwardly. Apocalypse wasn't just insane; he was revolting.
Apocalypse's ability allowed him to achieve eternal life by seizing the bodies of others. His soul would persist eternally, but the physical form would constantly decay. Seeing Robert's formidable body and powers, Apocalypse was tempted. If he could possess such strength, his dynasty could live on indefinitely.
The look in Apocalypse's eyes became increasingly fervent. Robert, on the other hand, felt disgusted. A guy constantly trying to steal someone's body was beyond insane—it was outright perverse. He had previously thought Apocalypse was just a madman, but now he knew: Apocalypse was both crazy and revolting. No wonder he was constantly betrayed—it served him right.
"I used to think the ancestor of mutants was some towering figure," Robert scoffed, "but I didn't expect... he's just a parasite relying on stealing others' bodies to survive."
He had no reservations speaking his mind. At this point, Robert genuinely wondered if the powerful figures in Marvel were mentally ill. The Celestials had created the mutant bio-weapon, resulting in a pervert like Apocalypse. The Kree had created the Inhuman bio-weapon, leading to more body-snatching maniacs. It was twisted.
Apocalypse had no idea what Robert was thinking. He maintained the same pleasant expression and said, "You are about to merge with me, offering an immeasurable contribution to the future of Mutants—to my rule. Rest assured, I'll erect a monument in your name. Everyone will remember your sacrifice."
If someone overheard without knowing the context, they might genuinely be deceived by his tone.
"Enough nonsense," Robert said coldly.
With a wave of his hand, green light flickered on his right palm. Under the control of his formidable will, a vast amount of green energy twisted and changed, gradually forming into a massive railgun.
Among the Transformers, the Decepticons' massive combiner, Devastator, was once taken down by a U.S. military railgun in a single shot. That railgun was, at the time, humanity's most powerful kinetic weapon. It fired solid projectiles at speeds dozens of times the speed of sound, creating air cavities that underwent qualitative changes.
But the railgun Robert had summoned with the Green Lantern Ring was even more terrifying. Though it looked like a solid projectile, it was, in fact, a solidified energy mass—pure destructive will.
Robert bet that Apocalypse, with all his understanding of modern technology, would fall for it.
Sure enough, as soon as the full form of the railgun emerged, Apocalypse's eyes lit up with intrigue.
"What exactly is your ability? You can replicate even such advanced technological weapons?" he asked. "Humans truly are a marvelously creative species. In just a few millennia, they've created weapons that astonish even me. If I'm not mistaken, this is the so-called railgun humans developed. But tell me, child, do you truly believe this rudimentary weapon can harm me?"
Apocalypse remained supremely confident.
He had an extraordinary ability to learn. Through the internet, he could absorb thousands of years of human knowledge in mere days and adapt seamlessly to modern civilization. He once replaced the president of a major human industrial corporation without anyone noticing, which demonstrated the depth of his cunning.
So naturally, he didn't take Robert's attack seriously.
That arrogance was Apocalypse's only real flaw. Having already experienced betrayal, he still recreated the Apocalypse Knights without safeguarding himself. Later, he was taken out directly by a strengthened Magneto—a result of sheer arrogance.
Robert had calculated precisely this flaw—Apocalypse's overconfidence.
That was the terrifying strength of Robert's "Joker Thinking."
Through observation of words and actions, he could instantly deduce a person's personality and devise a targeted strategy. He hadn't needed to use this ability against previous enemies—they simply weren't worthy. But facing Apocalypse, the most powerful opponent yet, Robert deployed it in full force.
And clearly, his strategy had worked.
Without hesitation, without giving Apocalypse a moment to react, arcs of green energy surged into the cannon's barrel. The several-meter-long weapon crackled with devastating potential.
Apocalypse, for the first time, frowned slightly. Yet he still shook his head and said, "So be it. If you insist."
Robert didn't respond. He simply pulled the trigger.
The railgun unleashed a thunderous burst of energy. The projectile—an ultra-condensed green energy core—pierced the air at speeds no ordinary being could perceive. A visible vacuum tunnel formed behind it as it traveled, distorting space itself. Apocalypse, who had just been marveling at the ingenuity of human weaponry, was caught off guard. Even with his extensive knowledge, he had underestimated the lethality of Green Lantern energy when applied with technological principles.
The impact was instantaneous.
The blast tore through Apocalypse's shielding force fields, penetrating his chest with an explosion of light and pressure. His confident smirk vanished as he staggered backward, disbelief on his face.
"You…!"
Robert was already charging forward, not giving his opponent a second chance. Green tendrils of light formed into blades and shields around him, continuously shifting as he engaged in close combat. Apocalypse attempted to regenerate, but the energy lodged in his chest disrupted his ability to control his body.
For the first time in centuries, he felt fear.
"You dare…!" he roared.
"I do," Robert snapped back. "Because I'm not one of your tools. I'm the one writing the script now."
Apocalypse swung a fist wreathed in purple energy, but Robert blocked it with a shield and countered with a knee to the gut. The force sent shockwaves through the air, and Apocalypse's body crashed into a distant wall of solidified green light.
Robert knew this wouldn't end it. Apocalypse was far too resilient.
But he had made his point.
Apocalypse's arrogance was no longer a shield. His advantage of age, knowledge, and experience had been cracked by Robert's adaptive thinking and imagination.
This was no longer a battle between strength and strength.
This was a battle of creativity—and in that realm, Robert stood unrivaled.
FOR MORE CHAPTER
patreon.com/Jackssparrow