The Destroyer Candidate smirked. "Now, Diana—no, all of you! Let me show you what you must overcome to stand as subordinates to Lord Gohan."
Everyone watched in anticipation. Even Gohan himself leaned forward, curious. What ceiling will she set for them? Strix was, after all, undoubtedly the third strongest being in the universe.
Her power surged beyond anything Diana could have imagined. An immense pressure flooded the void, rippling through the cosmos itself. Vermont's eyes narrowed, then softened into a smile. "What a marvelous level of control…"
Before Diana could react, Strix appeared behind her and drove her fist forward with annihilating force. The impact tore through the air, then through reality itself. Diana felt herself ripped from one layer of existence to another, shattering through dimension after dimension like breaking mirrors in a storm. Each realm flashed past—a colorless void, a molten horizon, a storm where time ran backward—before she finally crashed back into the world she'd started in, blood and starlight trailing behind her.
Diana staggered, gasping. "That was… what did you—how strong are you!?" She tried to steady herself but stumbled forward, trembling. Impossible… she only hit me once…
"What monstrous strength," she managed, glancing at her shaking hand before coughing up blood, "You're incredible, I assume that was not the full extent of your power?" When she looked up again, all she could see was a storm of emerald ki. Strix's aura was so dense, so violently alive, that only her glowing purple eyes cut through it.
"I held back," Strix said evenly.
She paused, her expression hardening as memory flickered behind her eyes. "I found out I could do this by accident… the day Lord Gohan died." Her tone dropped, quieter. "All I wanted then was to catch Sinestro. I chased him into space, but every time I pushed harder, I kept shattering the dimensional barrier. That's the real reason he escaped. I got… lost."
For a moment, her aura wavered, dimming. "It drove me mad. You know how close I came to killing the Justice members."
She exhaled, the storm around her finally dispersing. "Once you have enough god ki, you can do a lot more than you realize." Her eyes met Diana's. "That's also the only reason you survived a hit like that."
Diana, still clutching her side, nodded weakly. Her divinity had been the only thing keeping her alive—of that, she was certain.
Suddenly, the two felt themselves being pulled through space.
"Master…" Strix recognized the magic instantly. In a blink, the group and their surroundings materialized around them.
"Splendid show, you two," Vermont praised, tapping his staff against the ground. At once, the planet of the God of Destruction began to mend itself, as though time itself had chosen to rewind.
"You weren't kidding…" Natasha muttered under her breath as everything returned to normal, as if nothing had just happened.
In a flash of motion, Sentinel No. 1 appeared before Strix and Diana—both now fully healed. "You two are so strong!" she beamed, holding up her tiny fists.
"Now fight me!" she declared, unleashing her ki. A golden aura flared around her, tinged with red, flooding the air with godlike pressure that weighed on everyone present.
Strix promptly brought her hand down and bonked the girl on the head. The power-up stopped instantly as Sentinel No. 1 crouched, clutching her head in pain.
"Ow!" she yelped, rolling on the floor while Gohan watched, stunned. Strix really had grown.
"Are you all alright?" Strix asked the Avengers. The sudden spike in pressure had clearly been unpleasant.
"Yeah… thanks," Tony sighed, exhaling as he glanced back at Hawkeye, who still looked half-paralyzed by the child's presence.
"Is she your kid?" Nebula finally asked—the question on everyone's mind. An awkward silence followed.
"That's… complicated—" Gohan began, then stopped when he noticed Sentinel No. 1's full attention locked on him.
"When I take you all back to Earth, I need to find someone," he continued. "She played god with my DNA and that of this earths champion. That's why the kid's so powerful despite her age. So… yes—technically, she's my daughter."
Sentinel No. 1's gaze sharpened as he spoke, but Gohan didn't seem to mind.
Vermont turned his gaze toward Gohan. "So, the next stage begins on Earth?"
"Yes, I'm sure Amanda has enjoyed existing for long enough now," Gohan's words were cold to the touch. It reminded everyone who they were in the presence of.
"It's time for her to reap her seeds of destruction," Gohan turned to Vermont.
"The fury locked in the bottom of the castle, I believe its time we find out whether or not she wants to remain locked up," Gohan turned to Raditz.
"Take her to planet Bardock, and have the saiyans whip her into shape, that's only if she wants to, otherwise, leave her where she is,"
Raditz bowed low. "As you wish, my lord." Without another word, he vanished into a streak of energy
Gohan's gaze shifted to Sentinel No.1. "I'm heading to Earth," he said evenly. "But I want you to stay here. Don't go anywhere near it for now."
She folded her arms but didn't argue. "Fine by me—" she looked up at Trunks, smirking, "—as long as I get to train with mister Trunks over here."
Trunks blinked. "Mister Trunks?" he muttered, clearly caught off guard.
Her grin faltered under his look, and she rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh… just Trunks then."
Gohan chuckled quietly familiar habit. "If you can, please find my brother," she said suddenly, her voice small now. Gohan rested a hand on her head.
"I'll look for him," he assured her, tone softening.
"Strix, Vermont..." Gohan started before slowing, "and Diana? You coming along?"
She nodded. "Of course!" That's when she realized an entire group of people were now present.
"Forgive me," she said, straightening with a regal air, "I hadn't realized you were new allies."
Thor took one booming step forward, his grin radiant. "Aye! I am Thor Odinson, son of Odin, All-Father of the Nine Realms!"
Diana's smile widened, her own pride matching his. "I am Diana Prince, known as Wonder Woman, daughter of Zeus, god of the skies!"
The two warriors clasped forearms with mutual respect, lightning faintly crackling between them.
Tony leaned toward Steve, muttering, "Great. They're bonding over divine parentage. Next thing you know, they'll start throwing lightning bolts to compare voltage."
Steve sighed but smirked. "Better that than fighting."
Rocket perched on a stone, tail flicking. "Fantastic. Another lightning-throwing demigod. Starting to think the galaxy runs on those."
Nebula gave him a sharp glance. "At least this one doesn't shoot lightning from her hands."
Rocket shrugged. "Give her five minutes."
"Two warriors talking like they stepped out of a museum exhibit," Tony muttered, brushing dust off his armor. "Great. All we need now is a dragon."
Diana turned toward him. "And you are?"
He sighed. "Tony Stark. I build things that save the world—then spend the rest of my life cleaning up after them."
Strix's eyes narrowed. "A strange cycle you've chosen, metal man." Tony met her gaze. "Experience teaches faster than faith."