A figure clad in pitch-black armor appeared before Mar-Vell and Stark.
Above the V-shaped eyepiece, a crimson glow flickered ominously.
"Looks like you're in some trouble, aren't you?"
A cold, electronic voice echoed in their ears.
"It's you!"
Stark's expression shifted dramatically. Wasn't this the guy he had been keeping an eye on? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most wanted man, the one codenamed Black Devil.
"That's right, Mr. Stark. We meet again."
"But it seems your armor isn't quite as effective against Kree scout robots, is it?"
A trace of mockery laced Gene's voice.
Before Stark could respond, the reconnaissance robot redirected all its firepower toward Gene. Its combat program had already determined that the dark-armored figure before it posed a catastrophic-level threat.
Scarlet energy beams rained down, distorting the air with their searing heat.
Gene, unfazed, slowly raised his right hand.
A golden shield materialized in front of him, adorned with intricate, arcane patterns that exuded a mysterious and ancient aura.
Both Mar-Vell and Stark couldn't take their eyes off it.
"Absorb."
Gene 's voice was calm, almost casual.
The energy beams struck the shield and were instantly devoured, swallowed up by the glowing golden barrier. The heat they carried was immense, but the shield remained unshaken.
Then, in an instant—
"Release."
A torrent of concentrated energy, now amplified, blasted forth from the shield.
A thick golden beam shot directly at the reconnaissance robot. The resulting explosion sent Mar-Vell and Stark flying back, both landing unceremoniously on the ground.
As the smoke cleared, the damage was evident.
The Kree reconnaissance robot had suffered massive destruction. A large portion of its armor had melted away, revealing the delicate inner mechanisms beneath.
Although its self-repair systems kicked in, the extent of the damage was too severe—this time, recovery wouldn't be easy.
Mar-Vell, still staring at the robot in shock, turned to Stark and muttered, "Iron Man… who the hell is this guy?"
Stark, lying on the ground, let out a weary sigh. "To be honest? No idea. But if you're curious, feel free to ask him yourself. I'd love some answers too."
As they spoke, the reconnaissance robot had already restored thirty percent of its damage.
The red glow in its electronic eyes flickered erratically, its internal combat system now registering an urgent decision:
—This target cannot be defeated.
—Initiate fail-safe protocol.
—Deploy bomb.
A sudden yellow glow burst from the robot's body.
Mar-Vell's expression darkened immediately. His body tensed.
"Iron Man! The reconnaissance robot just activated its bomb!"
Mar-Vell shouted, a dark green energy shield flaring around himself and Stark.
He knew just how destructive that bomb was. It wasn't just an explosion—it was a planetary-level threat.
Would they even survive this?
He wasn't sure.
But before the thought could fully settle in—
Something shocking happened.
A transparent energy shield suddenly encapsulated the reconnaissance robot.
Inside the shield, the explosion erupted.
A blinding yellow firestorm surged, twisting violently within the confined space. The fierce heat licked at the edges, but—
Not a single spark escaped.
The shield held firm.
Mar-Vell's jaw nearly dropped.
The antimatter bomb stored inside the reconnaissance robot—an explosive powerful enough to level an entire city—had been completely neutralized inside that shield.
Not a single trace of destruction reached the outside world.
"...Who the hell is this guy?" Mar-Vell muttered, his mind reeling.
No one knew better than he did just how terrifying that bomb was.
Yet this mysterious man had contained it as if it were nothing.
At that moment, Gene turned to Mar-Vell and spoke calmly:
"Now, I think we should talk, Mar-Vell, commander of the Kree Empire's Science Division."
Mar-Vell's expression hardened.
He had lived on Earth for decades. He had long since grown attached to this planet and the self-reliant humans that inhabited it. Their resilience, their spirit—it made Earth feel like home.
He would not let Ronan take it away.
"...Alright," Mar-Vell said gravely. "I agree. We need to talk."
Gene didn't reply.
Instead, he raised a hand—and drew a golden circle in the air.
A shimmering portal appeared.
Through it, an office-like room was visible on the other side.
Mar-Vell stared, eyes widening.
How was this possible?
What kind of technology was this?!
After a moment of hesitation, Mar-Vell clenched his fists and stepped through.
Before Gene followed, Stark suddenly blurted out:
"Hey, Mr. Black Devil! I'm coming too!"
Gene turned to him. The glowing red V-shaped visor was unreadable.
"I mean, I did help with that alien tin can just now," Stark added. "You know, messing with its visual system? That's gotta count for something, right?"
His voice grew quieter under Gene's silent gaze.
"...Right?"
For a moment, Gene said nothing.
Then, silently, he stepped aside—allowing Stark to pass.
Stark blinked, slightly surprised.
"See? I knew you were reasonable," he muttered, stepping into the portal. "S.H.I.E.L.D. must be full of idiots if they think you're completely unapproachable."
As soon as Gene entered, the portal vanished.
Silence returned to the damaged forest.
Aside from the ruined trees and the scattered debris—
No one would ever know what had just transpired here.
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T/N:
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