Ronan became a thing of the past.
Noah didn't really make things difficult for him. Everyone dies eventually, and Noah had no interest in doing anything especially cruel. Not that he even knew how. If he did, he might've been tempted-it would've counted as a new breakthrough in soul-related research, after all.
The only regret was how little Ronan knew.
All he understood was that Ego was a living planet with countless offspring. Those offspring were regularly transported back through Yondu. Yondu had once been exiled by the Ravagers for refusing to complete a mission. That refusal, ironically, was a good deed. Ego kept claiming those children were fine, but Yondu never saw them again.
That only meant one thing.
They were all dead.
Ronan didn't know more than that. No abilities. No details. Nothing useful. That matched Noah's expectations. Anyone who truly understood Ego was either on his level-or already dead. Ronan was neither.
So his ignorance made sense.
Shaking his head, Noah honored their agreement and let Ronan leave peacefully. Keeping his word was one of Noah's habits.
Afterward, Noah told Roman Dey to burn the body.
What happened after that wasn't his concern. It was Xandar's spoils of war. He didn't care.
As for Nebula, Noah thought she was usable.
She was Thanos's daughter. One who hadn't rebelled yet.
Nebula was complicated.
She hated Thanos for destroying her home and turning her into something half-machine. That hatred never faded. But her rebellion required conditions. Gamora. The sense of family she craved. And later, Ronan wielding the Power Stone, which made her believe Thanos could be challenged.
Noah was different.
He was stronger than Ronan.
And he held Infinity Stones.
With Noah involved, Nebula's rebellion was inevitable. No persuasion needed.
After finishing with Ronan, Noah left cleanly.
Nebula was still unconscious. Noah didn't bother waking her. Whether she lived or died didn't matter much. He had no intention of letting this world repeat the mistakes of that "Banner from another world."
Before leaving, he gave Thor a reminder.
"Bring her back to Asgard. Show your strength. Show the Power Stone. She'll become loyal. You'll get plenty of information on Thanos."
"Oh?" Thor trusted Noah almost completely. Still, he asked, "Why?"
"I told you. Thanos's daughters come from destroyed civilizations. They hate him."
"I see," Thor nodded. "Using hatred as leverage. You're good at this."
Of course he was.
Why waste a perfect opportunity?
Thor had no objection. Though the phrase "loyal dog" made him pause. Jane Foster crossed his mind.
Noah didn't notice.
Once everything was settled, Noah returned to Earth with Wong. No ship. No delay. With coordinates, teleportation was faster.
"So," Wong said back at the Sanctum, sounding mildly helpless, "we went out, took a gem, and watched fireworks?"
"Isn't that ideal?" Noah laughed. "Do you want every mission to end in chaos?"
Peace was good.
Even if, on a galactic scale, what he did was anything but peaceful.
Ronan the Accuser was infamous across the universe. Backed by the Kree. Feared by countless civilizations. And now, gone in a single strike by a mage.
That news wouldn't stay quiet.
Noah didn't care.
His reputation would spread sooner or later anyway.
Back in the New York Sanctum, time passed quickly. June arrived. Noah wasn't sure whether that counted as late summer or early autumn. It didn't matter.
He spent most of his time studying domain magic.
The more he learned, the more terrifying it became.
Combined with the steady feedback from the Cosmic Cube, his growth was stable and relentless. He had reached the peak of Tier Eight, Level Nine.
One step from Tier Nine.
He had experienced it before, but experience and ownership were different things. His "Big Chin" clone was still just a trump card. Even now, he couldn't fully control it.
That was fine.
It was a rare day off.
After finishing Wong's assignments, Noah went out.
This time, he wasn't the one being doted on.
He was the one doing the doting.
Hermione was with him.
"Dating you is difficult," Hermione said softly, holding his hand and smiling.
"It is," Noah admitted, lifting her hand and kissing it. "But we can always steal time."
The Ministry was running smoothly under her. If she found the right people, she could even become the next "Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore had been diligent. He delegated power freely. Sometimes too freely. But he trusted the younger generation.
Noah didn't expect Hermione to be that hands-off.
But sharing burdens meant more time together.
Not once every six months.
"And texting doesn't count," Hermione said.
"I know," Noah laughed.
"I'm already training people," she added. "Harry's doing well. He's my secretary now. Kate's serving as Deputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement."
"That's good," Noah nodded. "They're all finding their place."
"Kids?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "We're the same age."
"And yet you sound like a professor."
"Aren't Kate and the others the same?"
"They're copying you."
Noah tightened his grip on her hand.
Marriage felt distant. Children even more so.
But something stable?
Something long-term?
That didn't feel distant at all.
He leaned in slowly.
Hermione sensed it. She closed her eyes, calm and ready.
Then Noah's phone rang.
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