C86: Delay Time
"Hidden away?"
He retracted his palm and stared at Li Ran, who stood unscathed before him. The Huoyun Evil God couldn't help but smirk: "Let's see how many times you can dodge."
With those words, the malevolent god raised his hands, and golden symbols swirled around his arms. Sanskrit chants resonated from every corner of his being: "The second form of the Tathagata's palm—*The Golden-Topped Buddha Lamp*!"
Of course, Li Ran wasn't surprised by the attack; the Tathagata's Palm was a well-known move, a mystical technique capable of inflicting immense destruction. While Li Ran managed to dodge the attack itself, the sheer force of it left deep palm imprints on the walls of the Chinese restaurant, shattering the surroundings.
"Is this really the person we were supposed to defeat?" Jessica muttered, turning her head toward the intense battle.
"Guys, it's not that I'm being pessimistic, but if the Fire Cloud Evil God pulls that kind of move... we won't be able to resist," Jessica continued.
"It's the Tathagata's Palm," Matt added, adjusting his stance. "He should have used it earlier. Do you remember how he knocked you out of the sky last time, Jessica?"
Matt's words brought up painful memories of the previous battle. She clenched her fists, frustrated, then kicked a Hand ninja in front of her. "Thanks for the reminder, Matt. I'll be sure to thank the Evil God for showing mercy."
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Luke Cage absorbed the blows and effortlessly blocked an attack from a ninja. His gaze flickered toward the battle in the distance. He couldn't help but speak up, "As much as I hate to admit it, Master Ye isn't going to hold on much longer."
Li Ran, despite his formidable skills, was no match for the overwhelming power of the Fire Cloud Evil God, a being whose strength was like that of DC's Darkseid or Marvel's Thanos when wielding cosmic power. The previous skirmishes had been designed to elevate Ye Wen's character and build up the Fire Cloud Evil God's formidable presence. Now, the tension was escalating, signaling a critical turning point in the story.
Jessica shot a quick glance at Matt, who was already deep in thought. "If Master Ye from Penglai can't defeat this Fire Cloud Evil God, what chance do the rest of us have?"
Matt, ever the strategist, replied with conviction, "Master Ye is our only chance to win. We need to help him."
"Right," Danny said, cracking his knuckles and adjusting his Iron Fist stance. "We have to act!"
Although the Defenders were accustomed to seeing Danny use his Iron Fist, after facing off against foes like Marvel's Luke Cage and the destructive power of the Fire Cloud Evil God's Tathagata Palm, his attack seemed almost underwhelming. Yet, it was enough to create an opening.
Luke Cage, his invulnerable body a wall of muscle, surged forward, opening his arms and charging into the fray. The Defenders wasted no time as they moved in between the battle of Li Ran and the Fire Cloud Evil God.
"Get out of here. You're not ready for this fight," Li Ran warned, his face set in a solemn expression.
"Master Ye, this is not just your fight anymore," Matt countered, his guide stick raised, determination in his voice. "From the start, we've all been fighting for Hell's Kitchen."
Li Ran paused for a moment, staring at them, before letting out a resigned sigh. "Alright. But be careful. I don't know much about the *Tathagata Palm*, but from what I've gathered from the Penglai Island owner's occasional remarks, it's an ancient immortal technique from Tianzhu, very different from Penglai's immortal methods. The training involves enlightenment. Based on how the Fire Cloud Evil God performed it just now, it's clear that this power isn't fully developed."
While Li Ran spoke, the words only partially registered with Matt and the others. They caught the last bit: "So... the Fire Cloud Evil God can get stronger?"
"Should we be lucky then?" Jessica said, a forced smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Her attempt at lightening the mood fell flat. She couldn't even laugh at her own words.
Li Ran sighed, his gaze unreadable. "You could say that."
"Even if he hasn't fully mastered it yet, it's still enough to wipe you out."
The Fire Cloud Evil God had been watching the Defenders, unbothered by their attempts to intervene. With a wave of his hand, he signaled his Hand ninja to stand down, sneering at the group. "You think you can defeat me?"
Li Ran gave Matt and the others a stern look, signaling them to stand by. "Actually, there *is* a chance, but I'll need time."
"Time?" The Defenders exchanged glances. They knew that buying time against the Fire Cloud Evil God was no easy task. The ruthless attacks from the god, capable of shattering entire buildings, were beyond even Luke Cage's ability to shrug off.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Matt steeled himself. "I understand. Master Ye, we'll cover you."
"I'll try," Li Ran said, nodding.
The Fire Cloud Evil God, unimpressed by their defiance, chuckled darkly. "You're all eager to die."
At that moment, Wesley, who had been silently observing, took the first step toward action. But Li Ran had subtly nudged him into motion. Given the Fire Cloud Evil God's presence, Wesley's usual arsenal of cornering bullets wouldn't be much use here.
The Fire Cloud Evil God smirked. "Do you really think that toy will work now?"
Before Wesley could react, the Fire Cloud Evil God waved his hand, unleashing another devastating *Tathagata Palm*. A flash of golden light engulfed Wesley, and in an instant, the location where he stood was transformed into a massive, crater-like imprint.
The Tathagata Palm ripped through the second floor of the restaurant, crashing down to the first floor with bone-shattering force.
"Wesley!" The Defenders froze, a wave of panic sweeping over them. Though Wesley had been a quiet member of their team, after all they'd been through together, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loss. The sheer magnitude of the attack left them uncertain of his survival.
\[The legend from Daredevil +750]
\[Fame from Jessica Jones +1020]
\[Fame from Luke Cage +800]
\[Fame from Danny +135]
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