"Is it possible... that he's not the final enemy, but just a messenger?" Amidst the rising debate among Earth's official agencies over whether to fully unleash all their resources to train doomsday-level defenders, a soft, contemplative voice echoed through the room.
"Hmm?! What do you mean by that?!" The voice startled everyone present, including Eric, who had joined the meeting but was unaware of the secret trump cards these official agencies held.
They quickly realized something: although the Silver Surfer appearing in Wakanda was just one individual, his metallic form seemed not impossible to replicate. He looked more like a machine.
If he truly were a robot, could Earth even counter such a terrifyingly powerful machine? And behind the creation of such a robot, how powerful must the beings responsible for it be?
In an instant, the official agencies that had intended to hold back certain resources dropped all reservations. After all, if this crisis could not be overcome, Earth itself might cease to exist. What use would be their preserved assets then?
Although Earth's technological advancements had reached interstellar levels — with many official agencies, like Wakanda, capable of space travel — leaving Earth posed its own set of issues. Abandoning their homeworld to venture into the unknown wasn't a decision taken lightly. Furthermore, Earth's civilization hadn't yet established formal contact with any extraterrestrial ones. Without star maps, aimlessly wandering through space would be even more perilous than the Age of Exploration.
And most critically, Earth's official entities had no idea who their enemy truly was or where they came from.
While the Silver Surfer had suggested Wakanda attempt to escape Earth, who could guarantee that space beyond the planet wasn't already surrounded? If they blindly ventured out only to walk into a trap, their chances of survival would plummet.
Given this, the official agencies resolved to stay and fight, determined to risk everything.
Under the immense pressure, these agencies finally abandoned their usual calculations and manipulations. With survival at stake and no guarantee of making it out alive, they decided to go all in.
Even though they had prepared bunkers as a last resort, they couldn't guarantee those sanctuaries would become their "Noah's Ark."
Soon, the high stakes brought about a chilling calm. Online discussions, which had been filled with chatter about the Avengers, quieted down. Even ordinary citizens could sense an impending storm, and a suffocating atmosphere enveloped Earth.
It wasn't as bleak as the time when the world was plunged into complete darkness, but there was a similar underlying dread. This oppressive feeling kept people off the streets, leaving once-bustling cities eerily empty.
Even the Black Cape Enforcement Squad ceased operations. Unlike ordinary people, they were privy to far more information. Vought International, which had access to Kryptonian and Doomsday technologies, had briefed them on the looming crisis. As superheroes, they too would be deployed into battle, despite not knowing who the enemy was.
Interestingly, while Vought held absolute control over the Black Cape heroes, it chose not to conceal the crisis and even relaxed its restrictions on the squad. Perhaps they had resigned themselves to the possibility of annihilation.
With newfound freedom, most Black Cape members indulged in excess. Superheroes devolved into true rogues. For instance, Homelander began preying on married women, shocking even Vought International.
"A true crisis indeed. The Avengers' disappearance couldn't have come at a worse time!" Still, a few Black Cape members refrained from descending into chaos, like Queen Maeve and the Sentry. At that moment, the Sentry gazed at the sky, murmuring to himself.
With his growing knowledge of the Avengers' plight, the Sentry understood the situation more clearly. While Ultron's initial creation had indeed been the Avengers' failure, much of what followed was the result of smear campaigns by various organizations.
Although the Avengers made mistakes, the Sentry believed they hadn't deserved to be vilified to the point of forced retirement and obscurity.
"This is what they call reaping what you sow," the Sentry muttered with a touch of sarcasm before shaking his head. "I wonder how they handled past existential crises. At least back then, these agencies didn't have to shoulder the burden themselves."
If not for the realization that this was a planet-level crisis threatening Earth's survival, the Sentry might have seized the opportunity to escape Vought's control.
Unlike other Black Cape members, who had been thoroughly brainwashed, the Sentry had long broken free from Vought's grip. If he wanted to, he could flee, hide, and live under the radar for the rest of his life.
But this crisis was all-encompassing. Even if he escaped and hid, the outcome would likely remain the same. Instead, he resolved to take advantage of Vought's relaxed restrictions during this time of peril to grow stronger.
Yes, ever since consuming a significant number of enhancement serums, the Sentry's power had continued to evolve. However, he could feel that his body had reached a limit — a hunger within him yearned for massive amounts of energy. Only by replenishing this energy could he truly awaken his latent abilities.
In dreams, the Sentry had caught glimpses of his untapped potential. It was like countless stars, resembling miniature suns, or a vast emptiness, devoid of anything.
The Sentry didn't know which vision represented his true power. Previously, he had no desire to explore it further, satisfied with his current state. But now, with Earth's survival at stake, he needed more power, whether to save himself or the planet.
Since becoming the Sentry, he had played the role of a superhero. Over time, that role gave him a sense of purpose — something he had lacked as a former drug addict.
To truly embody the superhero identity, his current strength was insufficient. The mounting pressure and his newfound sense of purpose fueled his desire to grow stronger.
With a flash of light, the Sentry vanished from his position, reappearing inside one of Vought International's secret research facilities.
This lab, once dedicated to studying the powers of Black Cape members, had now been repurposed into a factory for producing Kryptonians and Doomsdays.
Thanks to Lex Luthor's complete cooperation and the sharing of his knowledge, reproducing Kryptonians and Doomsdays wasn't overly challenging for Vought. At least, creating basic versions without additional enhancements was feasible. Under the pressing circumstances, there was no time to incorporate new features or pursue dreams of godhood. Surviving the current crisis was their priority.
"Sentry? What are you doing here?" The research head blinked in surprise, unsure why the Sentry had shown up.
"Do you think these creations alone can protect Earth?" The Sentry's gaze fell on the Doomsday specimens in nutrient tanks and the Kryptonian mechanical soldiers rolling off the production line.
"Maybe? Who knows? It's our only option," the researcher replied, shaking his head bitterly. "The Avengers are nowhere to be found. Even the higher-ups are pinning their hopes on these creations. What else can we do? Producing as many of them as possible seems like the only way."
"No. Perhaps you should place your hope in me instead," the Sentry said firmly.
"You?!" The researcher hesitated, knowing the Sentry's capabilities well. He sighed and replied, "I don't mean to dismiss you, but... your power isn't on par with these Kryptonian mechanical soldiers, let alone the Doomsday specimens."
"Then why not let me become a new 'accident'?" the Sentry countered calmly.
"An accident?" The researcher looked puzzled.
"Inject me with everything — the gene serums, the Doomsday blood extracts. If I fail, I die. Either way, I'd die when the real danger comes. So what's the difference?" The Sentry laid out his intention.
"If I succeed, though, wouldn't you have someone capable of merging the power of a Kryptonian and a Doomsday into an even stronger being?"
"...Are you seeking death?" The researcher was at a loss for words but eventually nodded. "Fine. If you die, I'll just say you tried to sabotage the lab and were taken down by the Kryptonian soldiers."
"No problem. If I die, use my body for further research," the Sentry replied, unflinching as he handed himself over for experimentation.
The researcher, seeing the Sentry's determination, reluctantly agreed. Shortly after, the Sentry entered the lab. All manners of serums derived from Kryptonian genes and Doomsday blood were injected into him, pushing his body through profound transformations.
Meanwhile, at the Avengers' base, the team had emerged from their retreat on the remote island. Aware of Earth's dire situation, they refrained from acting immediately. First, they ensured their loved ones were safely relocated to the New Earth. Then, they gathered to deliberate.
"There's no rush to intervene," Robert said, staring at the sky. "I can sense a powerful figure outside Earth. His strength is formidable, but it's clear he can't destroy the planet. He's not emitting killing intent and seems to be waiting for something..."
"Maybe, as the official agencies suspect, he's just a manufactured entity, and the true threat lies elsewhere," Robert added contemplatively.
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