The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics.

Chapter 1399 Dark Elite Guild - Mantis

Yang Le did not brush off the liquid from his body; instead, he reached out and smeared it on the spot where he had just been hit.

After its ultimate evolution, Puba's physical attributes improved to a certain extent, but not to a terrifying degree, so the attack just now did indeed injure it.

Yang Le secreted new compounds from his palm, which did not change the nature of the fluid, but added some new abilities, giving it analgesic and therapeutic effects. Combined with the fluid's viscosity, it became an unsightly bandage.

At this moment, Yang Le felt a little regretful. If he hadn't heard the sound and turned around, the attack would have hit the jar on his back instead of landing on his shoulder.

He gritted his teeth and endured the compound he spat out just now. It's fortunate that he evolved to the ultimate form. If it were Pupba in his normal state, this move might have triggered the Omnitrix's protection mechanism.

This is no simple matter, considering that Yang Le has only passively triggered the protection mechanism a handful of times since he started wearing the Omnitrix.

A person capable of doing something like this is definitely not some random nobody.

Yang Le slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. He looked up at the direction from which the attack had come, where a burly man wearing light green armor was standing.

The man's armor style was somewhat incongruous. His armor was clearly a combination of superhero style and bodysuit, and he also wore a distinctly Japanese helmet. The emblem on the front of the helmet was clearly in the style of a Japanese family crest, but it was still in a rather incongruous way.

Before he traveled through time, this was what Yang Le always complained about: American comic book artists' half-baked understanding of other cultures, resulting in classic comics that were neither fish nor fowl.

But now that he's traveled through time, Yang Le can only understand it as a unique style of Apokolips.

I don't understand, but I respect...

"Respect my ass!"

Yang Le cursed. "To still show respect after being ambushed must mean you have some masochistic tendencies."

"Oh, still lively and energetic?"

The green-armored man said in surprise, "I thought those two blows would either kill you or cripple you. It seems I really underestimated you."

"Stop barking like a dog." Yang Le's temper flared up. "Now I understand how you climbed to the top of the Dark Elite Guild, Mantis. You got there all through sneak attacks, didn't you?"

"As long as we can win, that's all that matters." The mantis raised its right hand and slowly clenched it. "I am the master of this power. I can use it however I want, and it's none of anyone else's business to tell me what to do."

"Forget it, there's no need to waste words with someone as weak as you. After I've dealt with you and returned to report, I'll go to the universe and have a good fight. Then you won't be alone in the afterlife."

After saying that, the mantis unilaterally ended the conversation, and he raised his hands, from which several more streams of electricity burst forth.

Yang Le, a veteran of countless battles, knew that what the mantis released was not real lightning, but rather an energy flow in the shape of lightning as commonly understood.

Why was Yang Le so clear about this? Of course, it was because he had just been hit by it, and nothing is clearer than experiencing it firsthand.

After enduring the attack, Yang Le did not experience any aftereffects of being electrocuted, such as muscle spasms, but he did suffer burns.

This is because the energy flow released by the mantis is too hot; burns are just the least of the problems. Normally, a creature hit by such an energy flow should be vaporized.

Seeing the energy stream rushing towards him, Yang Le, who was already prepared, once again erected a wall of slime in front of him. Ultimate Poopa's reaction ability was too poor, forcing Yang Le to use prediction. However, this was not a long-term solution. Ultimate Poopa's reaction ability could not keep up with the speed of the mantis. If he continued to fight like this, Yang Le could only stand passively and take hits.

Moreover, blending compounds takes time. Facing a powerful enemy like the praying mantis, the barrel's weaknesses will be magnified, eventually leading to certain death.

Having thought things through, Yang Le didn't stubbornly refuse to back down. He quickly snapped a picture of the Omnitrix logo. After a burst of white light that accompanied the explosion, the enormous Ultimate Puppet disappeared, and what followed was…

"Ultimate Electric Lizard!"

With its bright white teeth, the superstar Electric Lizard stands tall on the battlefield, exuding an overwhelming presence. Unlike the composed Puba, the Electric Lizard is filled with a restless and adventurous spirit.

Using its antennae to deflect the exploding slurry, the Ultimate Electric Lizard, with its exceptionally sharp reflexes, effortlessly keeps up with the speed of the praying mantis.

"Changed your appearance?" The mantis's eyes flickered slightly. "But it's useless!"

After saying that, the mantis seemed to transform into Pikachu, its body erupting with dazzling white light, and countless beams of energy shot towards the electric lizard from several directions like sharp arrows.

Faced with the energy bombs raining down like raindrops, the Ultimate Electric Lizard showed no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, he revealed a smile that could only be described as arrogant.

"I'm going to feast!"

As the electric lizard spoke, it thrust its tentacles forward, absorbing all the energy hurtling towards it like a vacuum cleaner.

"What?!" The mantis's expression changed slightly. "The same ability as mine?"

As Darkseid's top warrior, Mantis's ability to maintain his position as the most powerful fighter in the Dark Elite Guild is entirely due to his monstrous abilities.

The praying mantis was originally the leader of an insectoid group on a planet, but he later chose to join Darkseid's forces.

The mantis, who already possessed almost complete immunity to physical attacks, was further granted the ability to absorb almost any energy by Darkseid, the dark lord, in order to reward his pragmatism and loyalty.

Of course, this ability isn't without its side effects, turning the mantis into an "energy vampire," or an energy-draining monster.

Just as the name suggests, after gaining the ability to absorb energy, the mantis also developed a thirst for energy.

This means that the mantis needs to recharge in its "charging chamber" almost every now and then so that it can always maintain its best condition.

While not replenishing energy for a period of time won't kill a mantis, it will significantly reduce its fighting ability.

Therefore, it seems that as long as the mantis's abilities are exhausted, victory can be achieved with considerable difficulty.

However, the reality is not like that. Because of the mantis's incredible resilience, it will not be at a disadvantage even if the battle becomes a tug-of-war.

This is why Yang Le called the mantis a warrior with almost no weaknesses.

(End of this chapter)