The Celestials Arrive! Judge Backs Down in Seconds!

On the battlefield in space.

Ren had no idea that one casual fight had driven the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. into a career crisis.

His attention was fixed entirely on the prey before him.

With his formidable mental power,

he could clearly sense more than a dozen immense energy signatures racing toward Earth's coordinates from deep space.

The corner of Ren's mouth lifted.

He raised a hand to snap his fingers... Ahem. He gave a casual wave.

More than a hundred pitch-black spears appeared before him, hemming Eradicator in from every side.

At the same time,

his hands darted through the void.

Space across a million-light-year radius warped violently, then smoothed itself out as though nothing had happened.

Next,

Ren traced a finger toward Earth behind him.

A thin haze washed over the blue planet, blurring it as if someone had slapped a cheap filter on it.

Only after Ren added several more Spells

did Earth regain its usual clarity, as though nothing had changed.

With the disguise complete,

Ren clapped his hands in satisfaction.

Once he was sure his Pocket Formation was flawless, he looked ahead again.

"Looks like those Celestials aren't in any hurry to get here."

"I'd better give them some extra motivation."

Mischief flashed in Ren's eyes.

The moment he spoke,

the black mist trapping Eradicator went wild.

It pressed and seeped into the shield with savage force.

The trick worked at once.

Ren sensed the approaching energy signatures more than double their speed.

In the blink of an eye,

over a dozen brilliant streaks tore through the darkness like meteors and stopped in the nearby void.

More than a dozen colossal steel giants of different shapes sealed off the entire star sector.

"Release him at once!"

Before they had even settled into place, an imperious growl