Vision hovered, Mind Stone flickering. "The shield lasts fifteen minutes. Carol's hitting weak points."
James looked outside, super vision confirming. "What's your plan?"
"I sense your power," Vision said. "You could leave Earth."
"My mission's to save," James replied.
"There's no one left—just corpses."
Vision gazed at Wanda outside, silent. "Take the Mind Stone and go."
"You'll die," James said.
"Wanda's gone," Vision said softly. "I have nothing left."
He looked at her, red hair whipping in a scarlet storm, eyes bloodthirsty. "Goodbye," he whispered, opening a shield gap.
He removed the Mind Stone, tossing it to James. His vibranium body grayed, collapsing as zombies swarmed.
James stood before the shield, rain falling. He traced a rune, shattering the barrier.
Zombie Wanda locked onto him, chaos magic surging. Zombie Carol dove, energy blazing.
James vanished, reappearing behind Wanda, his punch blocked by a scarlet shield. She countered with red blades. His heat vision vaporized them.
He pinned her throat, slamming her into the ground, cratering the palace. Carol's punch hit his back; he elbowed her, collapsing her chest, sending her through buildings.
More zombies charged. James clapped, a golden barrier repelling them. Solar Flare! White light erased Wanda, Carol, and the horde, leaving ash.
Rain washed the scorched earth. James stood, armor glowing faintly, the "S" stark against the dark.
Vision's torn body lay among the dead, Carol's head staring blankly.
[Global scan complete. No human life signs,] Jarvis said.
James held the Mind Stone, its energy pulsing. [Mission 100% complete. Rewards: Growth Points, Kryptonian Tech Archive.]
No joy came. "This is saving?" he asked, rain streaking his face.
[Sometimes, saving means ending pain,] the system replied.
James gazed at the ruined land, bodies still. He soared into space, Earth spinning below—blue oceans, gray wastelands.
"Purge it."
He raised the Mind Stone, golden runes forming a planet-wide array. Solar Purge! A white beam pierced the atmosphere, incinerating every zombie.
When it faded, Earth was silent, scorched.
[Purge complete. Mission ended.]
James opened a portal, vanishing into the cosmos.
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