Carol Danvers recalled her previous encounter with Nolan.
The more she remembered, the angrier she became.
At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to grab Nolan and beat him senseless.
But she was a superhero.
She was Captain Marvel.
Because of that identity, she would never act so recklessly.
Still, that wasn't a problem.
In her eyes, Nolan was an outright villain.
Finding evidence to justify going after him couldn't possibly be that difficult.
So her purpose in coming to Locke Technology was simple.
She had come to make trouble for Nolan.
Meanwhile, Nolan had no idea that the woman with whom he had an endlessly complicated history was rapidly approaching.
Not long ago, every nation had placed another large order for weapons from Locke Technology.
Most of them were basic military equipment.
Nolan had always preferred a low-profit, high-volume business model.
Besides, with Thanos about to invade Earth, this was hardly the time to exploit every nation for maximum profit.
Even so, the sales quickly earned him enough Technology Points to unlock the Third-Generation Super Soldier Technology.
He stepped into his laboratory.
It was finally time to upgrade himself.
The second-generation Super Soldier enhancement had already pushed the human body's potential to its absolute limit.
The third generation, however, was an entirely different concept.
The second generation still belonged to the realm of humanity.
The third generation incorporated Dark Plane Technology.
According to the principles of the Super God Academy technology, a Third-Generation Super Soldier had already stepped into the realm of gods.
In other words, despite the different title, a Third-Generation Super Soldier was effectively a true deity.
Measured against the power scale of the Marvel Universe, its combat capability was roughly equivalent to a Skyfather-level being.
The difference was that Skyfather-level beings varied enormously in strength.
Once his enhancement was complete, Nolan would be able to adapt to his new power almost immediately.
Even as a newly upgraded Third-Generation Super Soldier, he would already rank among the stronger Skyfather-class entities.
That was why he believed he could finally confront Thanos head-on.
Of course, transforming himself into a Third-Generation Super Soldier was anything but easy.
Even with the technology in hand, countless technical obstacles remained.
Dark Plane Technology itself had originated from an accident.
Scientists of the Shenhe Civilization had accidentally discovered that matter and energy could be transferred into a strange dimension existing between reality and illusion.
After extensive research, they discovered that this mysterious space could host a miniature universe.
By continuously transferring matter and energy into it, they could construct an entirely independent material universe.
They named this breakthrough Dark Plane Technology.
It was an astonishing invention.
Unfortunately, its energy consumption was so overwhelming that practical application remained extremely limited.
According to the original Super God Academy design, a support system would first be constructed inside the Dark Plane.
Its output terminal would then be connected to a Super Soldier, dramatically amplifying the abilities of a Second-Generation Super Soldier.
Every functional module of an interstellar battleship could be replicated inside the Dark Plane.
Once connected to the soldier's body, a single lifeform would essentially possess all the capabilities of an interstellar warship.
That was the standard definition of a Third-Generation Super Soldier.
But Nolan wanted far more than that.
An ordinary Third-Generation Super Soldier was undeniably powerful.
Yet it still had significant limitations.
Very significant limitations.
What Nolan wanted was something even more fundamental.
He intended to bind the Dark Plane directly to his own body.
Each additional Dark Plane required tons of matter and energy to construct.
Even after completion, activating it demanded an enormous energy supply.
For an ordinary civilization, such costs were impossible to bear.
But Nolan was a businessman.
He might constantly complain about lacking money.
Ironically, money was also the thing he had the most of.
To maximize his strength, he had no intention of cutting corners.
Naturally, that also meant pouring unimaginable financial resources into the project.
There was another problem.
This was an entirely original design.
Even the System had no complete blueprint for it.
He would have to conduct extensive research himself to confirm whether his body could survive such a transformation.
Nolan continuously purchased reference materials from the System while studying every detail of the Third-Generation Super Soldier technology.
Sometimes he frowned.
Sometimes his eyes lit up with excitement.
Groundbreaking research was never easy.
Especially something as revolutionary as the Third-Generation Super Soldier.
More importantly, time was running out.
He simply couldn't afford months or years of experimentation.
Otherwise, Thanos would already be knocking on Earth's doorstep before his enhancement was complete.
If it came to that, he might as well settle for the standard Third-Generation enhancement.
So he devoted every waking moment to the project.
Three sleepless days later...
Nolan finally completed the last crucial breakthrough.
A smile spread across his face.
"It's done."
Now that he had perfected the upgraded Third-Generation Super Soldier design...
It was finally time to transform himself.
The only thing that made even him wince was the staggering energy requirement.
Technology was one thing.
Raw matter and energy were another.
The cost was almost unbelievable.
Had he not possessed the industrial might of Locke Technology across the cosmos...
Even selling the entire Earth wouldn't have produced enough resources.
Fortunately, he could still afford the investment.
He immediately exchanged for the required matter and energy before beginning the enhancement process.
Little by little...
His body began to transform.
Just then...
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the entire Locke Technology Tower.
Emergency alarms blared throughout the building.
At the same time, Red Queen's voice sounded beside him.
"Sir, an unidentified intruder has been detected."
"Identity confirmed: Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers."
"Would you like to initiate a counterattack?"
Nolan's expression darkened.
"Carol Danvers... that damned woman."
He had completely forgotten about her.
In his plans for fighting Thanos and the Dimension Lords, Carol had never even been part of the equation.
Yet someone had clearly convinced Nick Fury to call her back.
His annoyance was mixed with complicated emotions.
In another universe...
He and Carol had shared an intimate relationship.
This Carol was different.
Yet at their core, they were still the same person.
The thought left him with conflicting feelings.
"Issue a warning."
"She may be reckless, but she won't destroy Locke Technology without reason."
"If she would, then she wouldn't be Captain Marvel."
Nolan shook his head.
He understood Carol all too well.
She was proud.
Arrogant.
Self-centered.
In her eyes, everyone else revolved around her.
Yet she also followed her own strict moral code.
Her identity as Captain Marvel was the foundation of that code.
A superhero would never deliberately attack innocent civilians or businesses without justification.
Her actions now were nothing more than a show of intimidation.
"Childish."
Nolan sneered.
"Seal the laboratory."
"I'll deal with her first."
"Once that's finished, I'll continue the enhancement."
He left the laboratory and headed upstairs.
He wanted to see exactly what Carol Danvers had come here for.
If she intended to cause trouble...
He wouldn't mind letting her become the very first person to witness the power of his newly perfected Third-Generation Super Soldier technology.
Lose?
Impossible.
During their previous encounter, he had technically won.
But only through tricks and careful planning.
In a direct confrontation, Carol had completely overpowered him.
He had never minded using strategy to achieve victory.
But now...
Once his own strength surpassed hers...
He wanted to prove through absolute power who the true superior was.
And more importantly...
He wanted that troublesome woman to understand exactly how costly it was to provoke him.
As soon as he reached the top floor...
He found Carol sitting casually on his sofa as though she owned the place.
Above them...
A massive hole had been blasted straight through the roof.
Seeing Nolan appear, Carol sneered.
"Long time no see."
"So..."
"What tricks are you planning this time?"
Nolan smiled calmly.
"Tricks?"
"If I'm not mistaken..."
"The moment you arrived, you punched a hole through the roof of my headquarters."
"That was an obvious act of provocation."
"And now you're accusing me of playing tricks?"
He let out a cold laugh.
"I don't believe that's how a superhero should behave."
"No true superhero casually destroys someone else's property."
"Yes, we've had our disagreements."
"But I don't think they're enough for you to abandon everything Captain Marvel is supposed to stand for."
Carol's expression stiffened.
His words had struck exactly where it hurt.
A faint smile appeared on Nolan's lips.
"Whatever your reason for coming..."
"I need you to do one thing."
"Something worthy of both a superhero..."
"And a decent human being."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"Apologize."
Carol nearly exploded with rage.
She almost threw a punch on the spot.
But in the end...
She forced herself to suppress her anger.
"...Sorry."
The moment those words left her mouth...
Nolan laughed.
A damaged roof meant nothing to him.
Money could solve that.
Compared to the repair costs...
Watching Carol swallow her pride was infinitely more satisfying.
"That's better."
"Next time you visit someone's home..."
"Come with a smile instead of smashing through the roof."
"Otherwise people might mistake it for a declaration of war."
"I don't think either of us wants that."
His voice remained gentle.
But every word felt like a knife twisting inside Carol's chest.
"Nolan."
"I don't care what nonsense you're saying."
"I came back to Earth to stop the threat known as Thanos."
"And from everything I've learned..."
"You possess both the Mind Stone and the Reality Stone."
"I'm giving you one choice."
"Hand them over."
"I'll keep them safe."
Nolan answered with only three words.
"Why should I?"
Carol frowned.
"Do you even understand what you're saying?"
"This is the safest option for you."
"Don't think your little schemes will work against Thanos."
"Someone like you..."
"He'll kill you instantly."
"He won't give you the chance to rely on your tricks."
"And once he obtains those two Infinity Stones..."
"The entire universe will face catastrophe."
"So don't refuse me."
"Because on this planet..."
"I'm the only one capable of protecting the Infinity Stones."
Nolan laughed.
"The only one?"
"I'm sorry to say this..."
"But in my eyes..."
"Your strength is disappointingly inadequate."
"Against Thanos..."
"You simply aren't capable of defeating him."
"What did you say?!"
Carol's face darkened.
Golden cosmic energy erupted around her.
Her hair stood upright as power surged through her body.
She was furious.
Did Nolan really think anyone on Earth besides her could stand against Thanos?
She refused to believe it.
She had never fought Thanos directly.
She knew how terrifying he was.
But she had never feared him.
Even in a head-on battle...
She believed she could emerge victorious.
And yet...
A businessman.
A schemer like Nolan...
Actually dared to mock her and claim she wasn't strong enough to defeat Thanos.
"Perhaps..."
"I should show you..."
"What true power really looks like."
Carol growled as cosmic energy blazed around her.
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