Howard was pushed stumbling forward, his elderly body losing balance, about to fall to the ground.
But Marvika's reaction was faster than anyone could have imagined.
She just gently lifted her left hand, and a soft golden-red energy surged out like a stream, supporting Howard's body, allowing him to stand steadily, not even dropping his cane.
At the same time, her figure vanished.
Her movement speed was so fast that the eyes of everyone present could not capture it; at the very moment Howard was pushed away, Marvika had already appeared like a teleportation on the Skrulls' escape path, blocking his way.
The Skrull panicked and wanted to dodge, but Marvika's movements were faster.
She lifted her right foot, a seemingly casual side kick, accurately hitting the Skrull's abdomen.
That kick sent the Skrull flying backward as if hit by a truck, crashing heavily onto the ground three meters away.
"Cough!" The Skrull curled up in pain, his disguise flickering unsteadily, the human appearance appearing and disappearing like a projection with a bad connection.
Howard stood firm with the support of Marvika's energy, turned around, and seeing this scene, was too shocked to speak.
Maria hurried over to support her husband, both of their faces pale as paper.
Marvika walked slowly towards the Skrull lying on the ground, every step carrying an invisible pressure.
The Skrull lifted his head with difficulty, his disguise completely removed, revealing his true appearance.
Green skin, a face covered in fine lines, pointed ears, and a pair of yellow eyes flashing with fear and determination.
"This... what is this...?" Howard widened his eyes, pointing at the Skrull, unable to speak for a moment.
Maria was also wearing a look of shock, gripping Howard's arm tightly.
"Now." Marvika stopped one meter in front of the Skrull: "Tell me, how many of you have infiltrated Earth? What is your purpose?"
The Skrull gritted his teeth, a liquid similar to sweat seeping from his green forehead.
Knowing there was no hope of escape, he suddenly pulled a dagger flashing with cold light from his waist, stabbing it towards his own chest without hesitation.
He would rather commit suicide than reveal any information.
But Marvika's movements were faster.
At the moment the tip of the dagger pierced his skin, Marvika flicked her right index finger gently.
"Ding!"
A golden-red beam as thin as a hair shot from her fingertip, accurately hitting the blade of the dagger.
The energy dagger shattered upon impact, turning into countless specks of light that dissipated into the air.
Only leaving a shallow wound on the Skrull's chest, from which green blood seeped out.
The intense pain made him let out a muffled groan, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
From the Skrull pushing Howard, to Marvika saving him, intercepting, knocking him down, and stopping the suicide, the whole process took no more than five seconds.
When the Skrull collapsed unconscious, Howard and Maria finally realized what had happened.
They looked at the green alien creature on the ground, looked at the green blood seeping from his chest, and then looked at Marvika standing there, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Marvika crouched down to check the Skrull's injuries; the wound was not deep and not life-threatening.
Howard recovered, but his tone was still filled with incredible shock.
"What on Earth... is going on?" He pointed at the Skrull on the ground.
"Is he really an alien? And you, Ms., who exactly are you?"
Marvika did not immediately answer Howard's question; she first looked around. Although this tree-lined path was secluded, it was ultimately a public road.
The afternoon Sun shone through the gaps in the maple leaves, casting mottled light and shadows, and the faint hustle and bustle of the city could be heard in the distance, reminding them that this was not an absolutely safe place for conversation.
Howard also reacted immediately; this experienced strategist suppressed the shock and questions in his heart and quickly regained rational judgment.
He glanced at the Skrull lying on the ground, then at Maria's worried face, and made a prompt decision.
"This is not the place to talk." Howard's voice became steady again, and he walked with his cane towards the trunk of the Lincoln sedan.
"Although there's no one here right now, it is a street after all, and people could come at any time."
He tried to move the unconscious Skrull, but his elderly body made the movement somewhat difficult.
Seeing this, Marvika gently raised her hand and waved, and an invisible force lifted the Skrull's body, steadily placing him into the trunk.
The whole process was casual, yet it made the corner of Howard's eye twitch slightly, which once again confirmed the extraordinary power possessed by the woman in front of him.
"Thank you," Howard said briefly, checking the lock to ensure it was secure when closing the trunk.
Maria held onto the car door, her face still somewhat pale, but she tried to remain calm: "Dear, do we need to notify the Agency?"
"Not for now," Howard shook his head and opened the driver's side door.
"Before we figure out the situation, the fewer people who know, the better."
He sat in the driver's seat, while Marvika naturally opened the passenger door and sat in.
Howard started the engine, and the Lincoln sedan smoothly drove away from the tree-lined path. The car fell into a subtle silence, with only the low roar of the engine and the soft sound of the air conditioning system.
Maria sat in the back seat, her gaze drifting from time to time to Marvika in the passenger seat.
This suddenly appearing woman had incredible beauty, not the kind of beauty adorned by exquisite makeup, but a natural, perfect beauty that seemed to come from another dimension.
Her skin glowed with a faint golden luster in the afternoon Sun, her facial features were deep and full of heroic spirit, especially those amber eyes; when she looked at something, fine sparks seemed to flow deep within her pupils.
What Maria was more concerned about was the aura Marvika radiated.
It was an indescribable composure and majesty; even if she was just sitting there quietly, it made it impossible for people to ignore her existence.
Just like the Sun, you don't need to deliberately look for it, because its light naturally covers everything.
Howard drove the vehicle attentively, but his brain was running at high speed.
His gaze glanced at the trunk direction from time to time through the rearview mirror, his mind repeatedly replaying everything that had just happened: the suddenly appearing woman, that soft yet powerful force during the emergency brake, the moment the driver turned into a green alien, the extraordinary speed and power Marvika displayed...
Every detail was impacting the scientific worldview he had built over more than seventy years.
The car passed through Manhattan and drove onto the highway leading to Long Island.
The scenery outside the window gradually changed from dense urban buildings to open countryside, and the traffic volume became less and less.
About half an hour later, the car drove into a secluded estate area and finally stopped in front of a detached Villa hidden behind dense woods.
The Villa was in a typical modernist style, with simple geometric lines and large glass curtain walls, blending cleverly with the surrounding natural landscape.
"This is one of my private residences," Howard explained after parking the car in the garage and turning off the engine.
"Not many people know about it, it's very safe, usually regularly maintained, but there won't be any outsiders bothering us."
Marvika pushed the door open and got out of the car, standing at the garage entrance looking around.
"A nice place," she nodded in evaluation, her gaze falling on the meticulously maintained garden in front of the Villa.
Various flowers bloomed in the autumn sunlight, and a stone path wound through the lawn, leading to a small fountain.
The water was crystal clear, and a few koi fish swam leisurely in it.
Howard opened the trunk, Marvika again used her divine power to lift the unconscious Skrull, and the three entered the Villa together.
The interior design continued the modern minimalist style of the exterior, with a high-ceilinged living room that was spacious, and a full-length window that captured the view of the backyard.
The furniture was all custom-made high-quality pieces, both functional and artistic.
Several abstract paintings hung on the wall, and some sculptures and porcelain that were obviously antiques were placed in the corner.
Howard placed the Skrull in a storage room equipped with special locks, which was originally designed to store valuables, now temporarily serving as a makeshift cell.
He checked the locks and set up a simple alarm system before returning to the living room.
Maria had already brewed tea, exquisite bone china tea sets were placed on the coffee table, and the aroma of black tea permeated the air.
She made an inviting gesture: "Please sit, Ms. Marvica."
The three sat down, and the atmosphere was somewhat subtle for a moment.
Howard and Maria sat on the sofa, while Marvika chose an armchair.
The Sun slanted in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows on the floor.
After a brief silence, Howard cleared his throat and formally introduced himself: "Howard Stark, founder of Stark Industries and the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
Then he reached out and gently held his wife's hand beside him: "This is my wife, Maria Stark."
Marvika nodded in acknowledgement, then calmly stated her identity: "Marvica Odinson, from Asgard."
"Marvika... Asgard..." Howard stroked his neatly trimmed beard, his brows slightly furrowed.
"I have wanted to ask for a long time, Ms., are you talking about Marvika, the Sun Goddess and the divine realm of Asgard from Norse mythology?"
"Yes." Marvika's answer was simple and affirmative.
Howard and Maria looked at each other, both seeing the disbelief in each other's eyes.
"What does that mean?" Maria asked softly, her voice trembling slightly: "Is it really someone from mythology... no, a god?"
Howard took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, trying to clear his thoughts: "Excuse me, Ms. Marvica, do you mean that mythology is all true? Or is it just a coincidence that the names are the same?"
Marvika understood their confusion.
Over the millennia, she had seen too many mortals doubt and be shocked by the existence of the divine realm.
She knew that for humans accustomed to explaining everything with science, the fact that mythology could come true required some time to accept.
"It's hard to believe just by words, isn't it?" She said with a smile.
Then she made a simple gesture, raising her hand to gently brush the golden-red long hair hanging on her shoulder.
With her movement, that already brilliantly beautiful hair seemed to be ignited by an invisible flame.