Maria Hill felt a rare sense of relief when she saw that the three of them did not remain together.
Through the surveillance drones, she watched carefully as Carol Danvers turned and left first.
After exchanging a few words with Nolan Locke, Hela also turned and left.
Only Nolan Locke remained standing there alone for a moment, deep in thought, before finally departing as well.
Throughout the entire encounter, no one else dared to approach the battlefield.
The level of destruction created by the three of them was simply too terrifying.
At this moment, Maria Hill was once again shaken by Nolan Locke's overwhelming power.
She had always believed she had already overestimated him.
But this time, after witnessing the clash between the three of them, she realized something shocking.
Nolan Locke might actually be the strongest among them.
The reason was simple.
Even Hela's tone toward Nolan was noticeably more restrained compared to how she treated Carol Danvers.
And if Hela were truly stronger than Nolan, would she act like that?
At least in Maria Hill's judgment, someone like Hela would never show interest in someone weaker than herself.
She soon turned her attention away from the drone feed.
Carol Danvers was arriving soon.
Although Hill was dissatisfied with Danvers' behavior, she had to put those feelings aside.
Because from this moment on, they would be facing Thanos together.
Not long after, Carol Danvers arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.
"This is S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
She looked around.
It had been more than two years since she was last here.
Everything had changed dramatically.
While she was thinking, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent approached her.
"Ms. Carol Danvers, Director Maria Hill invites you to her office."
"Where is Nick Fury?"
Carol asked immediately.
When she left, Nick Fury was still the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and he had shown no intention of stepping down.
So she could not understand why, in just two years, he was no longer in charge.
In her memory, although Nick Fury had many flaws, he was at least competent as director.
She wanted to know what had happened during these years.
Because S.H.I.E.L.D. looked completely different now, as if it had been rebuilt from the ground up.
"Director Fury is no longer the director. If you wish to see him, Director Hill can arrange it," the agent replied.
Carol nodded and followed him.
Soon, she entered Maria Hill's office.
"Danvers, long time no see."
Maria Hill greeted her.
This was not their first meeting.
Back when Nick Fury was still director, the two had interacted many times, and their relationship had been decent.
Of course, that relationship was built largely on Hill's professionalism as an agent.
Even though she was not particularly interested in Carol Danvers personally, she had always maintained a proper working relationship.
"So, why did Nick Fury step down?"
Carol asked directly.
She was not someone who liked to beat around the bush.
Hill sighed.
"Regarding that, you should probably ask him directly."
"If I had to answer, I can only say it has something to do with Nolan Locke."
"Nolan Locke…"
Carol repeated the name.
"I knew it. That bastard is definitely involved in this."
Seeing her gritted teeth expression, Hill had to remind her.
"Ms. Danvers, I need you to take Nolan Locke seriously."
"He is our most important asset in dealing with Thanos. Without him, this war becomes extremely difficult to win."
"So I hope you can set aside personal issues until after this crisis is resolved."
Carol nodded.
She understood that she could not defeat Nolan Locke right now.
So there was no point arguing further.
"You saw the fight between us, didn't you?" she asked.
"Yes. We saw parts of it through drones, but the battle happened too fast and was too intense for detailed observation."
Carol glanced at her.
"Forget it. It doesn't matter whether you saw it or not."
"Nolan Locke has become extremely powerful. Even I find it difficult to deal with him now."
"So what exactly happened during these years? How did he become this strong?"
Hill actually wanted that answer more than anyone.
She shook her head helplessly.
"I'm sorry. I can't answer that."
"From what we know, Nolan Locke disappeared for a period of time. When he returned, his strength had increased dramatically."
"This is not the first time he has disappeared. Each time he vanishes and returns, he becomes stronger."
"But it is his secret. We don't know what he experiences during those disappearances."
Carol frowned slightly.
Disappeared?
Where could he have gone?
Space?
But S.H.I.E.L.D. should have known if he left Earth.
So it was clearly not that simple.
"Forget it. That's not important."
She shifted the topic.
"Let's talk about Thanos."
"He is extremely powerful, and he already possesses three Infinity Stones. If he fully unleashes their power, it is hard to imagine how we can stop him."
"So I suggest we gather all the Infinity Stones in one place."
"For example… in my hands."
Carol said confidently.
"Why?" Hill asked directly.
"Because I don't trust Nolan Locke."
"And I am confident I can protect them."
"So where are the stones right now?"
Hill answered calmly.
"The Time Stone is with Stephen Strange."
"The other two are with Nolan Locke."
Carol's expression darkened immediately.
"Fine. Then I'll go to Strange."
"I don't think Nolan Locke will hand his over anyway."
"But at least I can secure the Time Stone."
"Where is he?"
"The Himalayas."
Hill replied.
Carol nodded.
That gave her a new destination.
Even if she could not take Nolan Locke's stones, securing the Time Stone would already be a good outcome.
With it, Thanos would never be able to collect all the stones.
But just as she arrived in the Himalayas—
A glowing portal suddenly opened in front of her.
"Magic?"
Carol murmured.
She was not unfamiliar with mystical forces.
In the universe, there were many forms of power.
Asgard, for example, combined technology and magic.
And magic itself was simply another form of energy.
Then a man stepped out of the portal.
"You must be Stephen Strange," Carol said.
"That's right."
Strange smiled faintly, though there was a hint of helplessness in it.
He had already expected this moment.
The moment Carol Danvers arrived on Earth, confrontation was inevitable.
And she was, without question, one of the most difficult people to deal with.
Carol spoke directly.
"You cannot protect the Time Stone. Hand it over. I will keep it safe."
Strange shook his head.
"That would be a mistake."
"The Time Stone in my hands is safer than anywhere else."
"At least I can use it to glimpse possible futures."
"To find the only path where Earth can win."
Carol frowned.
"The future?"
"I don't believe in that."
"I only believe in what I control."
"Now, give me the Time Stone."
"I don't want to repeat myself."
Strange sighed.
"Then it seems we will have to fight."
At the same time, far away in Locke Tech, Nolan was continuing his Third Generation Super Soldier transformation.
Hela was sitting inside his office, waiting.
She had been showing up here more and more frequently lately.
Enough that it made him slightly uncomfortable.
And a ridiculous thought crossed his mind.
Was Hela… interested in him?
He immediately dismissed the idea.
Impossible.
She was probably only here because he was the only one capable of opposing her.
Their relationship was somewhere between enemy and ally.
And that balance… might not be a bad thing.
Finally, the transformation was complete.
Nolan's body looked unchanged on the surface.
But inside, everything had undergone a terrifying evolution.
In the next moment, he vanished.
Not through movement.
But through spatial transition, reappearing inside his office via the dark dimension system.
Hela was startled.
"When did you get here?!"
Even she had not sensed his arrival.
Nolan smiled slightly.
"I've been here for a while."
Hela rolled her eyes.
She changed the subject immediately.
"How are you planning to deal with Thanos? And those dimensional lords?"
Nolan replied calmly.
"Dimensional Lords are not the main problem."
"With the formation suppressing them, their strength will be greatly reduced on Earth."
"If I appear, I can hold them off."
"And Strange might be able to stall them as well."
"The real enemy is Thanos."
"But defeating him will not be easy."
He shook his head.
"There is only one option."
"Destroy his army completely on Earth."
Hela smiled faintly.
"If I help you deal with Thanos, what do I get in return?"
Nolan raised an eyebrow.
Then he said casually,
"Then I might as well just give myself to you."
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