"What do you mean, real power?"
A strange look crossed Nolan's face.
If this had happened even a day earlier, he would have treated Carol Danvers with extreme caution.
She might have been arrogant and thoroughly irritating, but when it came to raw strength, there were very few beings in the universe who could surpass her.
The old Nolan would never have found it easy to gain the upper hand against her.
After all, Carol was the kind of woman who would challenge even Thanos without hesitation.
But things were different now.
He had already undergone the Third Generation Super Soldier enhancement.
Not only that, it was his own perfected version.
The cost had been astronomical, but so was the increase in power.
Although the transformation had not yet been fully completed, his strength had already risen dramatically.
To be honest, he was eager to find out exactly how powerful he had become.
If he still struggled to defeat Carol Danvers, then facing Thanos head-on would be far more difficult than he had imagined.
Seeing the expression on Nolan's face, Carol's anger flared instantly.
The last time they had fought, she had completely overwhelmed him in terms of raw power.
Her defeat had never been because she was weaker.
It had been caused by outside factors.
Yet only a short time had passed, and now Nolan looked completely fearless.
To Carol, that expression was nothing short of arrogance.
Her pride would never tolerate someone like Nolan looking down on her.
The next second, she shot forward.
Seeing her charge, Nolan didn't move.
Instead, he raised his voice.
"Carol Danvers, what exactly do you think you're doing?
This is Lock Technology Tower.
There are hundreds of employees working beneath us.
Do you understand what will happen if we fight here?"
Carol's body stopped abruptly.
But the golden energy surrounding her became even more violent.
The fury in her heart was barely restrained.
Had reason not prevailed at the last second, that punch alone would have reduced the entire Lock Technology headquarters to rubble.
Even so, she glared at him furiously.
"Nolan Lock!
If you're really a man, then stop hiding.
Last time you relied on dirty tricks.
Are you planning to use the same cowardly methods to escape my judgment again?"
Nolan smiled faintly.
"Escape?
I think you've misunderstood something.
Last time wasn't escaping.
It was strategy.
From where I stand, an irrational 'superhero' like you isn't much different from Thanos.
As the victim, am I simply supposed to stand still and let you bully me?"
His calm response only made Carol even angrier.
Then Nolan suddenly said,
"You want a fight?
Fine.
Let's leave Lock Technology first.
If we fight here, the building and everything around it will suffer enormous damage.
I'll give you the battle you want.
Let's settle this somewhere else.
And this time, when you lose, don't make excuses."
Carol said nothing.
She merely shot him one furious glare before blasting into the sky.
She no longer wanted to waste another word on Nolan.
Right now, she wanted only one thing.
Beat him into the ground.
After that, she would meet with the Avengers and discuss how to stop Thanos.
As for Nolan Lock...
He belonged in prison.
There was no need for someone like him to participate in the coming war.
Watching her leave, Nolan wasn't surprised.
"Red Queen, continue the production schedule.
Expand our weapons manufacturing capacity.
Thanos will arrive soon.
When I return, I want everything ready so I can complete the final stage of my Third Generation Super Soldier transformation."
With that, Nolan flew after her.
As the two headed toward the wilderness outside New York, another conversation was taking place inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Maria Hill had just received a transmission from the Moon.
"Carol Danvers is back?"
She looked surprised.
"That's right."
Tony Stark nodded.
"She just left the Moon.
At her speed, she's probably already on Earth by now."
He couldn't help complaining,
"Even after all this time, meeting her again reminds me how impossible she is to deal with.
Honestly, if I had the chance, I'd love to hang her upside down and give her a good beating."
Maria Hill's face darkened.
She knew exactly how dangerous Carol was.
She simply pretended she hadn't heard Tony's comment.
If Carol ever found out he had said that, Tony would regret it for the rest of his life.
Tony clearly realized the same thing.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Our conversation today won't leak, right?"
"Of course not."
Hill nodded before frowning.
"But I still haven't received any report saying Carol checked in with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Normally she'd contact us the moment she returned to Earth."
Tony shrugged.
"How would I know?
I'm not living inside her head.
Besides, once that woman decides to do something, there probably isn't anyone on Earth who can stop her."
With that, he ended the call.
He still had far too much work to do.
There was no time to waste chatting.
Hill stared at the silent communicator.
If Carol had already returned...
Then where had she gone?
Just then, an agent burst into the room.
"Director!
We've confirmed that someone forcibly entered Lock Technology Tower.
Shortly afterward, Nolan Lock left the building together with that individual.
They're heading toward the outskirts of New York.
Judging from their behavior, they're likely about to fight."
Hill froze.
Then her expression changed dramatically.
"Immediately identify the intruder.
And tell me...
Was it a woman?"
"We can't confirm it yet.
But based on the surveillance footage, there's a very high probability."
The agent answered immediately.
Hill's expression became extremely grim.
"This is bad..."
Tony had only just informed her that Carol Danvers had returned.
Now she was hearing that someone had stormed Lock Technology and provoked Nolan.
She couldn't think of anyone else capable of doing something so reckless.
Or anyone else bold enough to try.
"Notify every available unit in New York immediately.
Send them to intercept the two of them.
The person at Lock Technology has to be Captain Marvel.
If we can't stop this fight, our chances against Thanos will suffer greatly."
Hill understood the situation perfectly.
Both Captain Marvel and Nolan Lock were indispensable in the coming battle.
If either of them was injured...
Or even if their conflict left lasting resentment...
The outcome of Earth's war against Thanos could change completely.
They had no room for mistakes.
No matter the cost, this battle had to be stopped.
Unfortunately...
What she imagined and reality were two entirely different things.
No one present possessed the power to stop them.
Outside New York...
Nolan and Carol stood facing each other.
Carol looked at him with unconcealed disdain.
"Where's your armor?
Don't tell me you intend to fight me with your bare hands.
I hope you're not that overconfident.
With your armor, you might survive a few of my attacks.
Without it...
I don't even feel like fighting you."
Truthfully, she was already surprised.
Nolan had kept pace with her through pure physical speed alone.
But her pride wouldn't allow her to attack an unarmored opponent.
Inside Lock Technology, she'd nearly lost control because of her anger.
Now that she had calmed down, she had once again become Captain Marvel.
Nolan simply shrugged.
"I don't need armor to deal with you."
Carol's expression darkened instantly.
No one had ever looked down on her like this.
If Nolan insisted on being so arrogant...
Then she would show him the consequences.
She transformed into a streak of golden light and charged straight at him.
She intended to drive him into the ground with a single punch.
She wanted to see just how much confidence this businessman had.
Yet Nolan remained perfectly calm.
He didn't even move until the instant her fist reached him.
Then his eyes sharpened.
He raised his own fist.
The two punches collided head-on.
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave erupted in every direction.
The violent impact flattened the surrounding trees and grass within dozens of meters.
Carol's expression changed slightly.
He actually blocked it!
She had never imagined Nolan could truly stand against her.
But instead of making her cautious, it only fueled her anger.
In her eyes, Nolan was someone she could crush whenever she wished.
So what if he'd become stronger?
She hadn't begun fighting seriously yet.
Golden energy exploded from her body.
This was the power she had inherited from the Space Stone.
Her exposure to it years ago had granted her a fraction of its limitless energy.
That endless power was the source of her confidence.
No one could withstand her assaults.
Because her energy would never run dry.
With a fierce shout, Carol threw another punch.
Then another.
And another.
A relentless barrage crashed toward Nolan.
She still wasn't using her full strength.
She had no intention of killing him.
That wasn't what a superhero should do.
She believed it wouldn't take long before Nolan was defeated and forced to kneel in surrender.
When that happened...
Perhaps she would graciously give him a chance to redeem himself.
But Nolan showed no sign of weakness.
His steel-like fists met hers blow for blow.
Neither gave an inch.
Even so...
His face remained astonishingly calm.
Carol might not have revealed her full strength yet.
Neither had he.
In fact, Nolan knew something she didn't.
She was already approaching her limit.
The Space Stone possessed infinite energy.
Carol Danvers did not.
She could only draw upon a tiny fraction of its power.
As for Nolan...
Up until this moment, he hadn't activated a single true ability of the Third Generation Super Soldier.
He was relying solely on his enhanced physical body.
Nothing more.
"Nolan Lock!
I never expected you to become this strong.
But so what?
Now I'll show you what Captain Marvel is truly capable of.
You still have time to regret your decision.
Otherwise, I can't guarantee you won't get hurt."
Nolan chuckled.
"That sounded more like a joke than a threat.
If possible, I'd love to hear a few more.
Maybe they'd actually improve our relationship."
Carol's face darkened like never before.
"You're asking for it!"
The corners of Nolan's mouth rose into a confident smile.
"Asking for it?
I think you've greatly overestimated yourself.
Perhaps it's time you learned what true strength really looks like.
Otherwise...
When you face Thanos, you'll only end up getting completely crushed.
After all...
You're still a woman."
The moment those words left his mouth...
Carol exploded with rage.
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