In an instant, a shadowy figure emerged from the air, becoming more and more real.
The figure wore silver armor adorned with dark red accents, a long silvery-gray cloak that flowed gracefully, and a two-handed sword sheathed on the man's back. The face shield covered the entire face, concealing his identity and creating a mysterious aura that intimidated anyone who looked at him.
Nancy was about to react, but a soft voice that was very familiar slipped into her ears.
"Maxie, it's me."
The voice—it was Lance.
Lance, who was now disguised as the Lord of the White Sky, the supreme controller of the sacred image of the White Lantern.
The power of the White Lantern Ring came from the gratitude and recognition of the people. Therefore, maintaining a clean and noble image was not just a choice—it was a necessity. If people began to associate the White Lantern Messenger with blood and chaos, their power would weaken, perhaps even disappear entirely.
Now, the demon within Nancy had been cast aside. So let Nancy deal with these attackers herself.
After all, Nancy was wearing a mask. And even if these soldiers began to guess Nancy's true identity, as long as she did not openly admit it, they would choose to pretend not to know.
And if some refused to play dumb, then Nick Fury would force them to pretend.
It must be acknowledged—Nick Fury, the man with a god-level annoying yet useful paranoia—was the best buffer between the extraordinary world... and the world that was not ready to accept the truth.
This is clearly seen in the incident of Avengers: Civil War. When Nick Fury was still serving as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he fought hard to protect the superheroes from the political greed of the government, so they would not be hindered from acting as the guardians of the world.
However, when Nick was forced to disappear from the main stage, the fears of major nations towards the Avengers began to surface. Ultimately, the Sokovia Accords divided the once-solid group of Avengers.
In that situation, Maria Hill—who was recruited as one of the replacements in the command line—turned out to lack the authority and capability of Nick Fury.
If only Nick had still been there as a mediator, many believed that the ideological conflict between the two factions of superheroes would not have escalated into such a significant rift.
Now, Lance faces a situation that is no less complicated. Various forces are watching Lance, waiting for an opportunity to seize or eliminate him. However, Lance believes that only Nick Fury is cunning and intelligent enough to balance the interests of all parties—without needing to dominate them.
Lance does not expect these major powers to back down. It is enough if they do not openly interfere in his affairs.
On the surface, everything seems peaceful. No open conflict, no stray bullets. But Lance is not foolish—he knows that at any moment, a dagger could be aimed at his back.
If enemies come, Lance will greet them with a sword. If threats come like a flood, then Lance will dam them with earth!
"Who are you?"
Lance's face, covered by a helmet, made Dr. Redrick shiver. Dr. Redrick slowly backed away, sneaking behind the ranks of special forces. Dr. Redrick's gaze was cold, cynical, as usual, "Are you an ally of Maxie? A sorcerer? No matter who you are, this capture operation has military authorization. If you dare to interfere—"
Dr. Redrick, a pure scientist, always scoffed at things that could not be explained by formulas—including magic. To Dr. Redrick, sorcerers were merely illusions for fools.
"Too much talk." Lance sneered in a mocking tone and raised his Golden Dagger.
The golden light shot forth like rain falling from the sky.
The energy of the sword spread like a storm wave, accompanied by a faint whisper—like the sound of a lament from another world.
In an instant, blood splattered.
Dozens of soldiers filling the conference room—both those who came to hunt John Darius and the additional forces summoned by Dr. Redrick—fell. Their bodies lay sprawled in blood, without having the chance to scream.
Only one remained standing: Dr. Redrick, trembling with wide eyes.
"Maxie," Lance said while lightly spinning his sword, "I leave that man to you."
...
...
...
The lives of dozens of fallen soldiers added a pinch of energy to the Black Lantern Ring—enough to create one or two new emissaries.
Nancy stood frozen for a moment. Her gaze fell on Jude's body lying beside her, his eyes closed. Gently, Nancy closed the child's eyelids while whispering softly, almost like the murmur of the wind, "Did you... kill them all?"
Nancy was no stranger to the battlefield. She had once been a soldier herself. But seeing her former comrades taken down mercilessly, one by one falling to the blood-soaked ground, leaving the still-warm scent of gunpowder in the air... Something cold settled in her chest. Something foreign. Uncomfortable.
Lance responded flatly. "Their own military doesn't even care. Why should you be so restless?"
It was a bitter truth long known. The military treated soldiers like disposable ammunition. General Ross knew very well how terrifying the Hulk was, yet he still led the troops to surround and confront General Ross—and he enjoyed it, even if soldiers' lives became the price. Other commanders were no different.
If the generals didn't care, why should Lance?
After all, except for the Russian anti-terrorist forces, all the soldiers under Dr. Redrick's command came from the AIM Base.
As the old saying goes, "There are no innocent snowflakes in an avalanche."
They were weapons, killing tools in the hands of executioners. Hiding the atrocities behind the phrase, "just following orders," would never erase the bloodstains from the human heart.
And if they were indeed part of that evil... then it was time for them to meet their end.
In the warm, slowly evaporating pool of blood, Dr. Redrick staggered backward. His face was pale as he stared at Lance, his voice trembling with fear. "Who are you? W-who are you really? The potential of humanity is indeed extraordinary... but even Captain America couldn't do something like this..."
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
[Note: 300+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]