36 Confrontation

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Red Devil, who had always been obedient to Ivan's commands, hesitated this time. After a moment of thought, he said, "Dr. Ivan, it's too dangerous here. Why don't I first send you to a safe place to assist him?"

The Red Devil wasn't concerned about his safety. While he might not match the Goddess in real combat power or even the life-saving abilities of Kroenen the Clockwork Man, he knew few could rival him today. With his mastery of space manipulation, he could protect himself with ease and escape from any pursuers.

But the Red Devil worried that if Ivan was in danger and he got entangled with enemies, he might regret it.

In recent days, the Red Devil had been Ivan's protector. He understood better than anyone how crucial Ivan was to these mutants. With Ivan's brilliant mind, it was no exaggeration to say that he represented the future of the mutants. If anything happened to Ivan, he could become the scapegoat for all mutants.

Observing the slight concern in the Red Devil's eyes, Ivan grasped his thoughts. "Don't worry, don't forget my strength. I'm no less capable than you. My body now has five times the endurance of an ordinary person, not to mention my abilities. How many people here do you think can harm me?"

The Red Devil knew Ivan was right, but he still held reservations. "I'm not afraid of ten thousand, but just in case, Dr. Ivan, allow me to get you to safety before assisting."

Ivan recognized Red Devil's nature. Even when stubborn, he had a strong sense of responsibility. He nodded and said, "Alright, let me go first. Go."

Initially, the Red Devil intended to accompany Ivan to a secluded location, using his spatial ability to transport her discreetly. However, plans often unravel in the face of unexpected events.

While the Confederate commandos had been engaging the Nazis, they kept an eye on their surroundings. One of them, seemingly a scholarly figure with glasses, identified Ivan and immediately shouted, "Miss Prince, Ivan Shaw is over there, Find a way to eliminate him quickly. He's Germany's chief scientist and has developed countless deadly weapons for the German arsenal. Taking him down will severely cripple the Nazis."

This time, it was Professor Bloom who spoke, and Wonder Woman hesitated. She knew Professor Bloom was the mission commander and a dedicated patriot. She admired his dedication to the country, reminding her of her first love, Steve.

She also knew her impulsive nature and lack of command experience had caused problems in the past. Steve had often guided her, and his ultimate sacrifice was linked to her recklessness. So, with a moment's hesitation, Wonder Woman decided to follow orders. She kicked Kroenen away, grabbed a steel bar, and threw it at him.

Although Kroenen was immortal, the wounds inflicted by Wonder Woman's sword sapped his vitality. After being kicked and impaled on the steel bar, he was temporarily immobilized.

After completing her orders, Wonder Woman turned her attention back to Ivan, approaching with formidable determination.

The situation took aback Red Devil and Ivan. They had witnessed Wonder Woman's combat prowess and weren't confident in their ability to confront her.

But they were no match for Wonder Woman's speed. She leaped over ten meters, closing in on Ivan and the Red Devil.

Red Devil, while running, cast a questioning glance at Ivan. Ivan understood he was considering using his spatial teleportation ability to escape.

Ivan firmly shook his head. The ability to travel through space was their last resort, to be used only in the direst circumstances. They couldn't reveal it lightly.

Red Devil, helpless, retrieved a few grenades from his concealed space and threw them one after another.

Explosions resounded, and Wonder Woman removed her round shield for protection. She was blown back but remained unharmed. Ivan and the Red Devil used the opportunity to distance themselves from her.

Wonder Woman sustained minor injuries and grew furious. She was also puzzled. Where were the grenades coming from? She hadn't seen them before.

She had no time to dwell on it, though. Seeing Ivan getting further away, she glanced around and spotted a half-destroyed armored vehicle nearby. She stowed her sword and shield, rushing to lift the vehicle with both hands and hurled it at Ivan.

Ivan had been using his mental power to monitor his surroundings. He saw the approaching armored vehicle and cursed silently. he couldn't let his opponent think he was weak. Ivan stopped and turned around, casually extending his right hand to block the oncoming vehicle.

With a dull thud, the armored car came to a halt in Ivan's hand, leaving him unscathed. Wonder Woman was stunned. She knew how much force she'd used to throw the armored car, and it was beyond her comprehension that Ivan had effortlessly caught it.

Wonder Woman couldn't understand this discrepancy in strength. In reality, Ivan's physical strength paled in comparison to Wonder Woman's. However, she had used her supernatural abilities to enhance her body and hone her martial skills. His physique was merely five times that of an average person, far inferior to Wonder Woman's.

Normally, catching an armored vehicle was an impossible feat for Ivan. However, Ivan possessed an additional extraordinary ability: energy absorption. In the previous battle, Black King Shaw demonstrated his power to bend steel controlled by Magneto. Although Ivan's current ability was nowhere near Shaw's level, his sharp intellect allowed him to understand and utilize his powers effectively.

Ivan could absorb various forms of energy, including kinetic energy. Through careful analysis and observation, his superhuman brain unveiled the secrets of this unique energy absorption and release ability. He could capture energy in motion, encompassing electrical, kinetic, and thermal energy, making him virtually omnipotent.

This capability motivated Ivan to study martial arts, not only to control his physical strength but also to enhance his proficiency in close combat techniques.

When Ivan caught the armored car, his body quivered, and a phantom-like process began as he absorbed and converted kinetic energy. This ability was fascinating, rendering him impervious to most forms of damage. It even allowed him to absorb and utilize nuclear energy, and the more attacks he faced, the more powerful he became. However, there was a limitation—his ability couldn't handle energy beyond his absorption limit, which risked damaging Ivan if exceeded.

With the help of his supernatural ability, Ivan easily caught the armored vehicle hurled by Wonder Woman. This act left everyone stunned, particularly the Allied commandos who struggled to react.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ivan whispered to Red Devil, "I've got this under control. You can lend your assistance elsewhere." He swiftly converted the absorbed kinetic energy into a powerful release, propelling the armored vehicle back at Wonder Woman even faster.

Wonder Woman, still somewhat distracted by Ivan's astounding abilities, slowed down and was struck by the returning armored vehicle. With a resounding crash, the vehicle was flung 20 to 30 meters away before coming to a halt. Wonder Woman, disoriented, pushed the vehicle aside and fixed her gaze on Ivan with unwavering intensity, brandishing her sword as the battle continued.

Ivan was undaunted, his body slightly bent, his hands adopting an unusual posture in front of his chest, and an enigmatic gleam in his eyes.

"Attack"

Wonder Woman shielded herself, bared her teeth, sprinted towards Ivan, and then leaped suddenly, soaring ten meters above the ground. She descended upon Ivan, her swords poised for a decisive strike.

With his strength revealed, Ivan had no reason to continue concealing his powers. He saw this as an opportunity to engage in a battle. In Chinese, he shouted, "Self-Blade," and took the initiative to meet Wonder Woman. He employed his mental powers to sense the sword's trajectory and swiftly reached out with both hands, neatly trapping Wonder Woman's sword between his palms. He harnessed his energy absorption to neutralize the weapon's force.

"Ugh," Wonder Woman exerted all her might, causing the ground to tremble. She attempted to push down her sword, but perplexingly, no matter how much force she applied, the sword remained immobile.

Never before had Wonder Woman encountered such a situation. She continued to escalate her efforts, but it proved futile. Unbeknownst to her, Ivan absorbed the power she exerted, turning the confrontation into a struggle against herself. Only if the instantaneous power exceeded Ivan's absorption threshold would it be effective; otherwise, it would be in vain.