Good.
Now he had "super-grade telekinesis" as well.
Leon felt himself getting closer and closer to being a true cosmic overlord. The only thing missing was something like transforming into a sphere of light and moving faster than light itself.
The Ancient One 's Ring didn't count. Its spatial teleportation relied on the Space Stone, not Leon's own power. Unlike Aionsega, it wasn't System-certified equipment.
If he left the Marvel universe, he wouldn't even be able to take it with him.
And even if he could, it would likely end up like the Infinity Stones in the TVA's drawers—common trinkets with no real function, good for nothing but paperweights.
"You weren't actually under his mind control?!" Loki demanded in disbelief.
"Oh, Brother," Leon replied regretfully, "you must understand—human constitutions differ. Sometimes the gap between us is greater than the gap between man and dog."
Pure, shameless flaunting.
He rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms, interlaced his fingers and cracked his joints. Thunderous pops echoed through the air as he slowly drifted toward Loki with overwhelming pressure.
"W-What are you doing?"
Loki instinctively shrank back.
"What am I doing?" Leon chuckled darkly. "You."
Retaliation for those earlier kicks? Absolutely.
Leon grabbed Loki by the ankle and slammed him left and right like a ragdoll.
"AAAHHH—!"
The world spun violently. The familiar sensation of being violently manhandled returned to Loki once more.
Then—
"The Scepter?"
"Confiscated."
"Lion's Fangs?"
"Also confiscated."
After thoroughly disarming Loki, a crackling blue Sling Ring portal opened beneath Leon's feet. With Armament Haki and a 50% boost from The Fool, he hurled Loki downward with near-full strength.
"AAAAAA—!"
Wind resistance distorted Loki's face as he began yet another destiny-bound freefall.
Leon casually tossed Lion's Fangs aside. The twin blades hovered obediently nearby.
He then froze a slab of crystalline ice atop the rolling sea. Under the stabilization of his Bio-Field, it floated steadily despite the waves.
Next, he summoned Bast in her maid form, Arcee in A2 configuration, and 2B.
Comfortably resting on a triple lap pillow, Leon began studying the Mind Stone Scepter Thanos had given Loki.
"Master, may I replenish my divine energy on my own?" 2B asked proactively.
"USB-C or round port?" Leon replied seriously. "That's important. Mismatched output could overload you."
Since 2B was being so proactive, Leon naturally indulged her. His divine energy was practically limitless anyway.
"Round port," she answered immediately.
USB-C offered higher output—fast charging—but sometimes caused leakage from excessive divine current.
The round port was slower, safer, and less likely to cause energy overflow. Ideal for leisurely charging—like now.
All of this, of course, came straight from The YoRHa 2B Daily User Manual, authored by Leon Stark Odinson himself.
The author's name alone guaranteed its credibility.
Leon was a staunch 3.5mm headphone jack advocate. Phones without one were heresy.
Once, during a late university study session, he had been using Bluetooth earbuds while "exchanging learning experiences" with a teacher overseas.
He forgot to charge them.
They disconnected mid-call.
The teacher's voice blasted through his phone speaker.
Social death.
Ever since, he never trusted Bluetooth again.
Thus—
Just as the 3D realm cannot lack Tifa, and the West cannot lack Jerusalem—
A phone cannot lack a 3.5mm headphone jack.
"Take it easy," Leon warned 2B. "Don't overload."
He shifted into a more comfortable position and activated Divine Energy Conversion, transforming his stamina and physical vitality into divine energy to slowly replenish 2B.
After the battle with Ares on Themyscira, her reserves were nearly restored anyway. Leon didn't even need to tap into his Eternal Core.
"Mm…"
2B let out a soft sound as she began charging automatically.
Though it was her first time using the round port interface, Leon's meticulously written manual guided her flawlessly.
Arcee and Bast exchanged speechless glances.
The team had acquired a workaholic.
What was the solution?
"—Hiss!"
Suddenly, Leon's hand jerked.
The tip of the Scepter accidentally pressed against a soft curve of Bast's future maid outfit. It didn't pierce through—only left an indentation.
Leon couldn't glean much from inspection alone.
As someone once said: Practice is the sole criterion of truth.
So he activated the Scepter's mind control.
His goal: overwrite Bast's loyalty to himself.
Buzz—
The blue crystalline casing around the Mind Stone began vibrating like a computer freezing.
Bast's eyes flickered rapidly between clarity and the black void of Mind Stone domination.
"Shit—?!"
"It's not going to explode, is it?!"
Leon tried to pull the Scepter away—but it wouldn't budge. It felt welded in place.
He dared not apply too much force, fearing he might destroy both Bast and the Scepter together.
So he stopped struggling.
Please don't die.
Losing a rideable, battle-capable, adorable goddess would be tragic.
Then—
2.5 seconds later—
BOOM!!!
An immense surge of psychic energy erupted from the Scepter, violently ejecting Bast as if rejecting contamination.
Leon's floating ice platform shattered instantly.
He teleported and caught the unconscious Bast midair.
Arcee immediately shifted into motorcycle mode and, with exasperation, pulled 2B—who had been blasted in the opposite direction—into her cockpit.
"Seriously? You're still charging at a time like this?!"
"2B?"
"…."
Arcee shook slightly.
No response.
She realized 2B had fallen unconscious.
Which shouldn't even be a concept for a machine.
Machines either functioned—or shut down permanently.
Leon hadn't noticed 2B's condition yet.
Because in his arms, holding unconscious Bast, he heard the System's delayed but rapid notifications.
And they stunned him.
[Warning: The Mind Stone attempted to overwrite Bast, Panther Goddess's loyalty to the Host. This action is deemed a provocation against the System. Initiating countermeasure protocol.]
[Countermeasure protocol in progress…]
[Notice: The Mind Stone has voluntarily ceased overwriting Bast's loyalty. Countermeasure protocol terminated.]
[Notice: Exposure to the Mind Stone's psychic surge has greatly increased Bast's resistance to mental corruption.]
[Notice: Due to chain amplification from the Mind Stone's psychic impact, Bast's body, mind, and divine power have undergone enhancement. Divinity Tier upgraded from "Mid-Tier Divinity" to "High-Tier Divinity."]
[Explanation: "High-Tier Divinity" comparable to Thor Odinson and Odin Allfather. Above this lies "Supreme Divinity." Additional information will unlock automatically upon Host encountering a Supreme Deity-class existence.]
Leon blinked.
"…You're telling me I just triggered a divine evolution event?"
The Mind Stone had tried to overwrite Bast.
The System interpreted that as a hostile act.
The Mind Stone backed off.
And Bast leveled up.
He glanced at the cracked Scepter in his hand.
"…So that's what you get for trying."
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