"You've all finished your fights?"
Noah looked at the approaching group. He set Wanda down and smiled at Carol.
"Long time no see, Carol. I didn't expect you to come back. It's been what, twenty or thirty years?"
"Yes, it's been a long time." Carol stared at him. He had grown up, but traces of the boy she remembered were still there. "The brat grew up. It feels like only yesterday."
"I suppose." Noah shrugged. "But the brat is getting married, while you're still alone. Kind of sad."
"Don't start with me." Carol rolled her eyes. She looked him over and finally understood why Tony said they were similar. She could sense an aura like her own coming from him.
She remembered the blood he had taken from her back then.
Clearly, this was the result of that blood. She didn't know how he did it, and she didn't care to ask. She had given it freely and didn't regret it. Mages always had strange abilities.
It still felt a little weird that his aura was so close to hers. More than that, she could tell he was at least as strong as she was-maybe even more terrifying. The fluctuations in his power exceeded hers.
She was curious about what he had experienced to reach this level, but she didn't ask. Everyone had secrets. Carol glanced around.
"Where's Fury? On Earth?"
"Probably at headquarters," Noah said. "Go see him. He's getting old. I'm worried..."
"Worried you'll run out of chances to see him?" Carol tilted her head. "Are you cursing him?"
"Of course not." Noah grinned. "He's a good friend. But he's just a human, and you're rarely on Earth. Go. We'll take care of the rest of the trash."
Carol smiled and shook her head. She didn't answer, but her stance made her intent obvious. Even if the mages could handle it, she wanted to finish things herself.
Take the Kree, for example. She had spared them years ago because of the "favor" of saving her life. But now that they had invaded, she wouldn't miss this chance.
Carol erupted into blazing light and shot into the sky, diving straight into the Kree army.
Her arrival changed everything.
It was like a tenth-stage warrior charging into a mass of seventh- and eighth-stage fighters-or worse. The destruction was absolute.
To Noah, it looked like an elephant trampling an anthill.
He glanced up at the sky, then turned back to Thor and Tony.
"Thor, looks like everything's fine on your end. I didn't expect Loki to take down a Thanos."
"Well, Noah..." Thor rubbed his nose, but Loki cut in immediately.
"Of course! If you can do it, I can too! Don't forget, I am the Regent of Asgard!"
"Right, right, Your Highness." Noah didn't believe him for a second. He chuckled and looked at the other Thor.
"How does it feel to get your revenge personally?"
"Complicated." The heavier Thor smiled and nudged Noah. "Hate is a heavy burden. Ending him felt good, but there's this emptiness. Like..."
"You lost your goal?"
"Yeah. Something like that."
"Then start a new life. Begin again."
Noah punched him lightly in return.
Life shouldn't be defined by hatred. When revenge is over, emptiness is natural. Noah didn't feel it himself, but he understood it. Once it's done, it's time to move forward.
The portly Thor was happy, though not without regrets. Noah didn't want him trapped by them. Time would fill the void. With no lingering obsessions, he could truly be happy.
In this universe, everyone he knew was alive and treated him as a friend. He could live far better here.
Thor smiled at Noah. He understood.
He really could start over.
"Congratulations, Thor." Iron Man walked over and nudged him. "Looks like you're doing well here. And long time no see, Mr. Fenrir."
"It has been a long time, Mr. Stark." Noah smiled. "You look older. Thanks for coming."
"No need, Lord Fenrir." Captain America joined them. "We didn't really do anything. Ms. Danvers handled it. We just-"
"The intent is enough." Noah waved it off. "Wait until we finish this. Then we'll celebrate."
Tony opened his mouth, probably to say they should help.
Before he could, Noah vanished in a flash of golden light.
Tony stared. Then he looked at his counterpart.
"Is he always like this?"
"Pretty much." The other Tony nodded. "But the fight's basically over. Don't worry about how. Let's head to the command center-or stay here, in case any leftovers show up."
Golden light flashed again.
Noah reappeared in the heart of the Kree fleet.
Capital ships. Dense swarms of fighters. Endless targets.
The Thanoses were gone.
Now it was time to deal with the rest.
The Kree reacted instantly, unleashing volleys of fire.
Energy beams. Missiles. Barrages that could erase civilizations.
Noah tilted his head.
They meant nothing to him. They might as well not exist.
He took a slow breath.
An overwhelming holy light erupted from his body.
He had never used Holy Light against an enemy before. In this universe, most believed he was a Black Dragon, an impression left behind by Thanos.
That wasn't ideal.
He despised winged "bird-men," but being mistaken for a Black Dragon was worse. Even if no one from that other universe ever appeared, a "Black Dragon named Neltharion" was far more recognizable than someone wielding Holy Light.
Holy Light could be sensed by anyone properly trained.
A dragon named Neltharion was far more specific.
As the holy power surged outward, a solemn hymn echoed through the void.
Both sides felt it.
Noah transformed.
Silver armor covered his body. His features softened. Massive wings of light unfolded behind him.
He looked divine.
Untouchable.
With a casual wave of his hand, every beam and missile vanished, as if erased from reality.
He gathered power.
Holy radiance flooded the nameless planet, turning the sky gold.
From that golden sky, a colossal blade of light descended.
It plunged straight into the heart of the Kree army.
As it fell, the hymn reached its peak.
The sound felt warm and reassuring to Asgardians, mages, and humans alike.
To the Kree, it was pure terror.
When the giant sword struck, the nameless planet was swallowed by blinding light.