MARVEL: TOAA

"Roar!"

The massive green gorilla slammed its fists into its chest, letting out a feral roar before throwing a punch like a falling mountain aimed directly at Sebastian Shaw.

Sebastian instinctively met the blow with his own fist. Yet, to his shock, instead of absorbing the force as usual, he staggered.

Bang!

The impact drove his knees into the ground, leaving cracks in the earth. A portion of the green giant's sheer power bypassed his ability to absorb kinetic energy.

"How...how is this possible?" Sebastian's eyes widened. He had absorbed explosions and energy surges before. For something to breach his limits so swiftly? Unthinkable.

From a safe distance, the mutated Iron Mandrill observed the clash. "Ha! Struggling already? Looks like you're not so invincible after all!"

John stood to the side, arms crossed. His expression tightened with irritation. "The beast's awakening seems to have dulled Iron Mandrill's brain. He doesn't realize we could kill him anytime we want."

Despite his condescension, John couldn't deny his fascination. How did Iron Mandrill maintain his scientific prowess while lacking common sense?

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The battlefield echoed with thunderous punches as the green giant unleashed a relentless barrage. Sebastian found himself overwhelmed, his usual smirk replaced with a grimace.

This green behemoth wasn't just strong; it fought with the ferocity of a living nuclear bomb.

Sebastian sneered, forcing himself to regain composure. "Strength isn't everything. Let's see how you handle speed."

In a blur, Sebastian vanished, his figure darting behind the gorilla. A calculated strike aimed for the back of the beast's head.

But before his fist could connect, the gorilla twisted mid-motion, slamming an elbow into him.

"What? How can something this massive move so fast?"

Reina, watching from the sidelines, gasped. The battle had become a blur of movement. She could no longer track their actions—only the sonic booms and shockwaves left in their wake.

John shook his head. "Speed has little to do with size, Reina. Larger creatures only seem slower because their movements are easier to track. In reality, their power and speed scale exponentially."

It was like a rocket launch: appearing sluggish from a distance but moving faster than any bullet.

Sebastian, realizing he couldn't win in pure strength or speed, shifted strategies. Flames of reddish-yellow energy ignited around his fists, radiating intense heat.

Even at a distance, John and Reina felt the searing temperature.

"Let's see how you handle this!"

As Sebastian's energy-empowered fists collided with the gorilla's, the green giant's flesh sizzled. The smell of scorched skin filled the air.

The gorilla, enraged by the burns, ignored the pain and retaliated with even fiercer strikes. Its roars echoed like thunder.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

Their punches blurred together, creating shockwaves that flattened the surrounding terrain. Eventually, one of Sebastian's fists failed to absorb the impact entirely, and the resulting blow sent him skidding across the battlefield, carving a trench in the ground.

Reina pinched her nose, grimacing. "Smells like barbecue out here."

Though triumphant, the green gorilla wasn't unscathed. Its fists were mangled, flesh torn, with white bone peeking through. But its regeneration was astounding—flesh rapidly knitted itself back together, granulation tissue forming over the exposed wounds.

"Ravion, how's our situation?" John's telepathic connection probed the sentient AI embedded in his suit.

Ravion's voice echoed back. "The biological structure of this creature is overwhelming. My systems can generate energy shields, but direct absorption or mimicry like Sebastian's isn't an option."

John sighed. "Can we infiltrate its mind?"

"I believe so," Ravion replied. "The creature's mental defenses are weak, but its skull has been reinforced, likely to shield its brain from trauma. This may complicate a direct neural assault."

John smirked. "Skull enhancements? I almost thought this thing was invincible. Fine, we'll exploit its weaknesses and make our move soon."

Back in the fray, Sebastian climbed to his feet, bruised but unbroken. "You're the strongest opponent I've ever faced," he admitted with a grim chuckle. "Let's see how you handle this next phase."

As he spoke, reddish-yellow energy seeped from his body, forming an ethereal film around him—a shimmering energy cloak.

John, watching from a safe distance, blinked in disbelief. "Is this guy serious? Did he just activate…Sage Mode? What's next, a tailed beast transformation?"

Despite his jest, John couldn't deny the parallels. Sebastian's understanding of his powers had advanced at an alarming rate.

"Impressive. No wonder he's such a threat," John muttered. "If this man ever joined the hero side, the entire Marvel universe would need to step up their game."

Sebastian's voice rang out, full of confidence. "This feels incredible. It's like all that excess energy I've absorbed is finally working with me."

The green gorilla roared in defiance and charged.

Sebastian stood his ground this time. With the energy coat cushioning his blows and absorbing part of the gorilla's raw power, the fight shifted dramatically.

Boom. Boom. BOOM!

Each punch exchanged sent tremors across the battlefield. Sebastian was no longer being pushed back—he was holding his own.

"Hah! Come on! Let's see what else you've got!" Sebastian laughed, exhilarated.

Watching from afar, John's eyes narrowed. "This isn't good. He's learning too fast. Ravion, execute the plan now! If we fail, we retreat immediately."

Although John coveted Sebastian's mutant abilities, he was pragmatic. The samples he'd collected so far—Magneto's magnetism, Azazel's teleportation, Riptide's tornado-like power, and the White Queen's psychic skills—were already a treasure trove.

If today's operation failed, he would cut his losses and leave.

"Understood."

As the battle raged on, John steeled himself for the final move.