Although Victor Von Doom was being besieged from all sides, he had never once taken his attention off Nolan Locke.
The two of them once shared a certain friendship. But now they had walked down completely different paths.
Victor was not naive enough to believe that Nolan Locke would spare him simply because of their past relationship.
If Nolan had not acted yet, it was only because he still had his own reservations.
That was why the moment Nolan moved, Victor noticed.
The ground suddenly exploded beneath Nolan's feet, and a figure shot forward like a cannon shell.
Victor Von Doom's eyes widened in fury.
Damn it.
Nolan Locke had finally made his move.
Victor glanced at the battlefield around him. Without hesitation, he turned and prepared to retreat.
Against the others, even if a few more joined the fight, he was confident he could hold on for a while longer.
But against Nolan Locke?
Caution was the wiser choice.
Unfortunately, wanting to retreat did not mean the others would allow it.
Not far away, Ben Grimm saw what was happening. With a roar, he leapt forward and crashed straight into Victor.
"Fuck!"
Victor cursed loudly.
But it was already too late.
Ben's monstrous strength sent him flying through the air.
Luckily, his silver surfboard rose beneath him, preventing him from smashing into the ground.
Still, that brief delay was enough.
By the time he stabilized himself, Nolan Locke was already right in front of him.
Victor was wary, but he was not afraid.
He remembered clearly what had happened before. Nolan had crushed the Silver Surfer under heavy artillery fire with overwhelming dominance.
But Victor also remembered something else.
Back then, Nolan's right arm had been connected to a massive mechanical gauntlet. That strange, unfinished armature had clearly been his true trump card.
Now that Nolan wasn't wearing it, what was there to fear?
With that thought, Victor Von Doom roared.
"Nolan Locke!
I already gave you a chance. Since you refused it… then die here!"
A faint smile curled across Nolan's lips.
Die here?
That sounded like a very unfunny joke.
A cold glint flashed in Nolan's eyes.
The two closed the distance at terrifying speed. Even Johnny Storm could not interfere in a clash at this level.
Electricity surged around Victor Von Doom's body, lightning turning into his deadliest weapon.
"Die!"
He roared.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out as the two collided.
Victor's punch carried an overwhelming current of electricity as it slammed against Nolan's fist.
The current surged toward the Mjolnir Armor Nolan was wearing.
Nolan did not hesitate.
He instantly kicked out, sending Victor flying backward.
If he stayed in contact with that amount of electricity for too long, even the Mjolnir Armor might not withstand it.
Although he was kicked away, Victor's face lit up with excitement.
Just as he had expected.
So what if Nolan Locke was powerful?
Without that strange mechanical arm, he wasn't nearly as terrifying.
But in the very next second, Nolan drew the blade from his back.
A psionic warblade shimmered with eerie blue light, its glow chilling to the bone.
Charge!
Nolan suddenly exploded forward.
The blade flashed like a streak of light, slashing straight toward Victor Von Doom.
Victor reacted instantly, lifting his surfboard to block the strike.
But combat was an art.
When the first slash failed, Nolan spun his body and delivered a second strike aimed directly at Victor's head.
Didn't want to abandon the board?
Then die with it.
"Fuck!"
Victor cursed again, both shocked and furious. He hurriedly dodged while unleashing arcs of electricity from both hands, hurling them toward Nolan.
But Nolan had already anticipated it.
He shifted his body and avoided the attack in a flash.
For a time, the two fought back and forth.
Yet it was obvious that even though Victor Von Doom was pushing himself to the limit, he had been suppressed by Nolan from the beginning.
Victor was shocked by Nolan's strength.
What he didn't know was that Nolan was equally surprised.
The surfboard's enhancement was incredible.
Victor had only possessed it for a short time. If he fully mastered its capabilities, Nolan might not be able to defeat him so easily.
But the world had no room for "what if."
Nolan's blade strikes were all lethal.
Victor barely managed to dodge them, looking increasingly disheveled.
Suddenly, Nolan's blade sliced across Victor's arm.
In the moment Victor faltered, Nolan kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying more than ten meters away.
The outcome was decided.
Everyone watching had the same thought.
Just as Nolan raised his blade to finish the fight
Boom!
A sudden explosion erupted where Victor had fallen.
A thick cloud of smoke engulfed the area, swallowing Victor completely.
"What just happened?!"
Johnny shouted in shock.
No one answered.
The smoke slowly began to clear, and figures inside gradually came into view.
Soon, a voice rang out.
"Looks like you guys couldn't handle him. Don't thank me. I took care of it for you."
As the dust settled completely, a blonde woman stood there.
In her hand, she held the unconscious Victor Von Doom.
Captain Marvel.
Although her appearance was slightly different, Nolan recognized her instantly.
In the main universe, the two of them had not gotten along very well.
Here, he had assumed they would never cross paths.
Yet the moment she appeared, she stole his kill.
Not that it really mattered.
But still...
"Are you blind? Victor Von Doom was already heavily wounded by me."
Nolan spoke without the slightest politeness.
Someone swooping in to take credit?
Sorry.
Nolan Locke did not play that game.
Carol Danvers narrowed her eyes at Nolan, irritation flashing across her face.
He wasn't wrong.
She had seen enough to guess what had happened.
The energy surrounding the man they were fighting was something she recognized instantly. That was why she knew he was an enemy.
But no one here knew her identity.
Taking the credit first was a tactic she used often in space.
Still, this was the first time someone had called her out so directly.
Carol stared coldly at Nolan.
Nolan met her gaze without backing down.
He wanted her help, not her arrogance.
At the very least, he wasn't about to accept some kind of show of dominance.
Their eyes locked.
The tension between them crackled like sparks in the air.
Neither of them moved.
Both understood the enemy they were about to face.
Seeing the situation escalating, Susan Storm quickly stepped forward.
"Now isn't the time for this."
She glanced up at the sky.
Darkness had almost completely swallowed the heavens.
But faint lights shimmered among the stars. No one knew what they were.
"May I ask who you are, and why you came here?"
Susan asked.
Carol withdrew her gaze from Nolan.
This was just a minor interruption.
After all, she still had a world to save.
She dropped Victor Von Doom onto the ground and walked toward Susan.
"Carol Danvers. You can call me Captain Marvel.
I believe you've realized by now that a massive crisis is approaching. A being known as the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus, is heading toward Earth.
To him, this planet is nothing more than food.
And aside from me, no one here can fight him.
So put aside your unnecessary doubts."
She spoke naturally, as though no one would question her authority.
Judging by the power she had just displayed, she assumed everyone here should understand the difference between them.
But when no one responded, Carol frowned.
"Where is Nick Fury?
I need to speak with him."
She had no interest in explaining things to people who clearly had no idea what was going on.
Suddenly, someone chuckled.
Carol turned toward the sound.
It was the same man who had challenged her earlier.
"You have a question?" she asked coldly.
Nolan smiled slightly.
As expected. Captain Marvel's usual arrogance.
But...
"Your suit shows signs of battle," Nolan said calmly. "And judging by the direction you came from, you've already fought Galactus, haven't you?
So tell me.
Did you win?"
Carol's lips twitched.
If she had won, why would she be here?
What she did not say was that she had not landed on Earth by choice.
Galactus had knocked her out of the sky.
Obviously, she wasn't about to admit that.
Her expression hardened.
"Galactus is extremely powerful. That's exactly why everyone needs to work together.
Now stop talking and answer my question."
But Nolan gave her no face.
"If you can't defeat him, Captain Marvel… shouldn't you listen to other opinions?
After all… this is Earth."
As he spoke, the Mjolnir Armor detached from Nolan's body automatically.
Against Galactus, the armor was useless.
Ignoring Carol's dark expression, Nolan turned to the Silver Surfer.
"The board belongs to you now. But first, tell us what you plan to do."
The Silver Surfer nodded.
"My power comes from my master, Galactus. The board is the bridge that connects us."
He looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds churned violently above them.
A fierce wind suddenly rose.
In the distance, objects from the ground began flying upward, as if the sky itself were devouring everything.
His master had arrived.
Everyone saw it.
Their faces changed drastically.
The Silver Surfer stepped onto the board.
The silver sheen that had once faded from his body began to spread across him again.
He ignored the liquid metal covering him and continued speaking.
"I will fly to my master and detonate the board.
Though his power is immense, the explosion will disrupt the energy within him. It will create an opening for you.
This is the only thing I can do.
After that… protecting this planet will be up to you."
He looked toward the sky.
The silver substance fully covered his body once more.
"Master… I have returned."
He crouched slightly.
Then the board shot into the sky.
Everyone watched in silence.
The Silver Surfer.
No…
Perhaps now he deserved to be called the Silver Knight of the Cosmos.
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion shook the heavens.
"AAAH!"
A deep, agonized roar echoed across the sky.
Terrifying energy crashed toward the ground like a tidal wave.
Susan instantly stepped forward, unleashing her force field to shield everyone.
The storm roared across the land.
Cars, debris, and even pedestrians were swept up by the wind.
After a long time, the storm weakened.
"DAMN YOU!"
A furious roar echoed like something rising from the abyss.
Galactus was enraged.
Carol Danvers' expression turned serious.
She could see that the Silver Surfer's sacrifice had worked.
This was the best chance to defeat Galactus.
Just as she prepared to charge forward
Nolan's voice rang out again.
"All combat units, prepare to attack!"
This was Earth.
And since they knew Galactus would come, Earth had prepared.
The moment Nolan gave the order, the White House relayed the command.
President Jonas Bennett issued the final authorization.
Standing by the window, he stared at the terrifying sky and the monstrous abyss opening above it.
"Mr. President, everyone has evacuated. We need to leave too!"
his secretary urged.
Bennett glanced at him.
"Leave? And go where? Is there somewhere off this planet we can run to?"
He murmured quietly.
"Nolan Locke… I'm betting everything on you."
He had known Nolan for a long time.
He understood just how intelligent the man was.
Against a being capable of devouring Earth, Bennett had no solution.
So he placed his faith in the one man confident enough to fight it.
That was why Nolan Locke had been appointed supreme commander of this battle.
This war did not involve just one base.
It involved the entire army, navy, and air force.
Nolan issued the command.
Bennett delivered it.
That was their strategy.
"All forces… commence attack!"
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Across the night sky, streaks of fire shot upward.
Missiles launched from bases across the entire United States.
Boom… boom… boom…
Brilliant explosions illuminated the heavens.
Even Carol Danvers couldn't hide her shock at the sight.
Then Nolan turned to the others.
For most of them, their battle had already ended.
With their current strength, they had no chance against Galactus.
That was exactly why he had sought out Captain Marvel.
Because she was the only ally he could find.
Carol quickly regained her composure.
"You think these attacks can defeat Galactus?"
She glanced at Nolan with disdain.
"Impressive firepower.
But defeating Galactus… that still depends on me alone."
Nolan smiled faintly.
"Really?
I don't think so."
BOOM!
A massive sound echoed in the distance.
BOOM!
Another followed several seconds later.
A colossal pillar-like structure rose beyond a skyscraper, towering into view.
At the same time, countless giant mechs flew alongside it.
Nolan's voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Psionic Main Cannon… full power…
FIRE!"
Let this single shot reveal the outcome of the ultimate battle.
The final clash had begun.