From Start to Finish, at His Peak

"Tick-tock..."

"Tick-tock..."

"Tick-tock..."

The vast space fell into an eerie silence.

The sound of blood dripping to the ground echoed in Jennifer's ears like a broken war drum, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief.

Ego, her man, or rather, her former man, actually killed Beckett like that?

Kill the accomplice she painstakingly found?

No, Beckett, where are your Infinity Stones?

What about those two huge Infinity Stones?

Why don't you take it out and use it?

Staring blankly at Beckett, who was still bleeding, it took Jennifer a long time to react.

Purple light gathered on his fists, and he slammed them straight toward his lover's chest!

She would give up anything for her race.

Including love!

"Ego!!"

The light of the Power Stone's isotope shone from Ego's chest. Having withstood Jennifer's attack without flinching, Ego's eyes were filled with disappointment.

Disappointed Jennifer actually made a move on him.

"You, for the sake of a foreign monkey..."

Humiliation,

An unprecedented humiliation haunted Ego's mind.

Although his purpose in approaching Jennifer was purely for her genes, he also genuinely developed feelings for her.

But now, this woman not only broke up with him first, but also punched him for the sake of that mistress?

"Why?"

Tell me, why?

Completely unfazed by the light of the Power Stone's isotope, Ego, filled with astonishment and rage, grabbed Jennifer's wrist.

Is it because Ego isn't strong enough?

Or is it that Ego is not as flamboyant as Beckett?

The words of King Robin when he reached an agreement with Ego kept echoing in his mind, making his eyes grow colder and colder.

"I don't want to do this either, Ego."

Unable to break free, Jennifer stared directly into Ego's eyes, her innocent expression fueling his anger.

"I've said it before, I love you, so I can't involve you in this."

"So you turned around and went to him?"

"Found this, a piece of trash?"

Ego pointed his finger at Beckett, whose breathing was growing weaker and weaker. Bound by silver tentacles, Beckett could only wait to die.

Jennifer pursed her lips and remained silent.

Who knew that what Ego said was actually true...

This formidable strength certainly seems more reliable than Beckett's...

"I advise you to say less of this kind of thing. Saying things like this before this guy is really dead will easily make you look bad."

Hela, who was tied to the cross by Robin and doing nothing, chuckled and glanced meaningfully at Beckett was still gritting his teeth and gathering his strength.

She knew this man too well.

As long as he's alive, this man holds limitless potential.

This is the truth that Hela concluded after several encounters with Beckett.

Although she was very reluctant to admit it.

"What did you say?"

Ego waved Jennifer aside, ignored the short, frail old man with a cane, and walked up to Hela.

Are you underestimating me?

"Oh, looks like you're pretty self-aware." Hela shrugged, and the next second Ego's head was right in front of her.

Their eyes met, and she could even feel Ego's breath.

Click!

Hela felt a sudden lightness in her body as the chains binding her were instantly severed by Ego.

Landed safely.

Hela rubbed her aching wrists, her brows furrowed.

"I like you, so,"

"Well, thank you for liking me, but unfortunately I don't like you," Hela interrupted Ego.

With a flick of his wrists, two blades appeared in his hands, and his gaze fell upon King Robin, who had been watching the show from the sidelines.

She won't be able to sleep well back in Asgard if she doesn't avenge this.

Clang!

Hela, dressed in a black bodysuit, leaped into the air, her twin swords descending from the sky and striking Robin's raised arm!

The loud shockwave made Jennifer, who had fallen to the ground, instinctively raise her hand to shield herself; the vibrating metallic clanging almost pierced her eardrums.

"Ego, this is different from what we agreed on before."

After easily deflecting Hela's attack, Robin turned her gaze to Ego.

When he found Ego through Jennifer's message, he made his request very clear.

He could tie Hela up and deliver her to Ego, but only after he puts Hela on the ship bound for Asgard tomorrow.

Having left Gaffa, Ego could do whatever he wanted to Hela, so that if Odin questioned him, he would have an excuse to argue with him on the surface.

"Nothing is different."

Ego raised his hand, and silver tentacles descended from the sky, locking Hela's limbs in place.

The speed was so fast that Hela had no chance to react.

"What?!"

The blade struck the ground with a clanging sound.

Hela struggled desperately, but to no avail.

He received the exact same treatment as Beckett.

Only when Hela truly faced Ego did Hela realize just how vast the gap in strength between them really was.

The oppressive feeling Ego exerted on her was exactly the same as that of her father Odin, or even greater.

Is he at the same level of strength as his father?

Hela gritted her teeth and glared angrily.

"I will make you fall in love with me."

Ego lightly flicked his right index finger across Hela's face, earning him a spit from Hela in return.

Wishful thinking.

"Aaaaaaahh..."

Ego still wanted to flirt with someone else in front of Jennifer, but Beckett, whom he had previously ignored, attracted his attention with her roar.

Golden flames relentlessly bombarded the silver tentacles that landed at his feet. Despite his bloodied chest and rapid breathing, Beckett had indeed surprised him by breaking free from the shackles called God.

"Warning! Warning, Your His Highness Beckett, the energy within your body is extremely unstable!"

"Warning, warning, Your His Highness Beckett, there is something inside you..."

Woz's alarm rang in Beckett's ears again and again. He wiped his bloodied chest with his hand, and three vials of Nutrient Fluid fell from the bracelet into Beckett's palm, which he swallowed whole.

"Hey, your opponent is me!"

Beckett smirked, his figure suddenly accelerated, and his golden right foot kicked Ego directly!

Boom!

A surge of energy erupted from the collision, and the aftershocks shattered the glass of the entire control center!

Boom!!!

The most solid building on Knowhere collapsed under Beckett's kick!

If it weren't for the energy barrier of the Great Sage Gubo, the entire Gafa would probably have been plunged into panic.

"Interesting."

Is this unstable energy structure on the verge of evolution?

Whoosh!

Ego's figure flew out from the ruins and appeared beside Beckett in an instant. "But, in your current weakened state, even if you complete your evolution, how long can you sustain it?"

Beckett blocked Ego's hand strike with both arms held across his chest, grinning maliciously, and stomped his right foot, crushing the silver tentacles that appeared under Ego's will.

"Weak?"

As their fists and palms collided, both of them were forced to slide backward due to the recoil.

Beckett stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He clenched his right fist, thumb pointing to himself. "I was at my peak from beginning to end."