"Did you find it?"
A projection emerged from one of the three remaining warships, forming the image of Yon-Rogg before everyone.
Looking at the familiar figure, Carol said slowly, "Yon-Rogg!"
Yon-Rogg gazed at Carol with a smile. "Vers, it's been a long time since we last met."
Hearing this name, Carol replied directly, "I should have told you years ago—my name is Carol Danvers, not Vers."
"Alright, alright, your name is Carol Danvers. But to us old friends, you'll always be the Vers who fought alongside us. Surely you understand that."
"Old friends? You mean the butchers who brainwashed me and used me to slaughter innocent people?"
"Vers, you feel you belong to Earth because of your memories there. You were born on Earth, yes—but you also lived on Hala for many years and fought for the rise of Hala and the Kree Empire for so long.
Think of all the people you met, the comrades you fought beside, the comrades you saved, and those who saved and helped you. Can you truly abandon them all?
Is there really such a difference between your birthplace and the place you once fought for, bled for, and gave everything to?"
"Yon-Rogg, stop talking! Your words won't deceive me!"
But Yon-Rogg showed no sign of stopping. "Vers, we used you to fight the Skrulls—but to the Kree, the Skrulls are mortal enemies. We've lost countless compatriots to them.
If the Skrulls ultimately triumph, do you think the Kree will fare any better than the Skrulls do now? Will you still sympathize with them then? The victims would be the Kree, wouldn't they?
The universe is dark, cruel, and bloody. If we don't destroy the Skrulls, they'll destroy us. What if one day Earth seeks to destroy the Skrulls—or the Skrulls want to destroy Earth, competing for territory and resources? What will you do then?
Vers, have you truly thought this through?"
Carol was genuinely shaken by these words.
She stared at Yon-Rogg, momentarily speechless. She had always pursued peace and justice—but was this the reality?
Seeing Carol's expression, the projection of Yon-Rogg gradually smiled and extended his hand toward her.
"Come, Vers, come back with us!
We can guarantee Earth's independence. As long as you remain on Hala, the Kree will provide Earth with ample assistance, helping it quickly become a spacefaring civilization with adequate self-defense capabilities.
We can also promise leniency toward the Skrulls—as long as they stay away from Kree territory. Come, return to Hala, rejoin our ranks, and become one of us again!"
"Carol..."
Rhodes was the first to speak, wanting to warn her not to be deceived.
But before he could finish, Carol raised a hand to silence him.
At that moment, Carol slowly lifted her head, looked at Yon-Rogg, and spoke. "You're as persuasive as ever. I have to admit, your words just now really did shake me. I was even close to agreeing—but you were a bit too hasty. You should have waited to convince me first, Supreme Intelligence!"
As Carol finished speaking, the image of Yon-Rogg in the projection immediately shifted, gradually transforming into a one-eyed black man—the image of Nick Fury. Clearly, over the years, Fury had become the person Carol trusted most.
Though Sebastian found this transformation absurd—the person she trusted most was Fury? After such brief acquaintance?—reality could indeed be stranger than fiction.
Nick Fury as someone's most trusted person...
"Fury, I wasn't lying. As long as you return to Hala, everything I promised will come true."
"Unfortunately, I have no interest in becoming your weapon again—slaughtering beings across the universe for you and destroying cosmic peace. Don't even think about it!"
"I see. That's unfortunate. In that case, we'll have to use force against you and bring you back to Hala to correct your thinking. At that point, you'll become a soldier on the front lines of attacking Earth."
"Capture me? With your fragile warships?"
"Of course not. What you've seen is only the vanguard. Our main battleship will arrive soon.
And it's filled with Inhumans from Attilan, the nation on the far side of the Moon. Some are our warriors; others are our prisoners.
If you're willing to destroy our main battleship directly, by all means—if you have the ability. Of course, in doing so, those members of the Inhuman race will die with us, and you'll become the executioner of the Inhumans.
Additionally, let me remind you—those innocent Inhumans are being held in separate locations throughout the ship. If you want to break in and rescue them, you're welcome to try—as long as you can get them all out."
"You despicable—!"
The Supreme Intelligence, still wearing Nick Fury's image, turned to Tony and suddenly transformed into Pepper Potts. "In war between species, there's only destruction and survival—no concepts of despicable or noble. If you Earthlings all hold such naive ideas, you'll never become a cosmic power. Now, let us see the strength of you Earthlings!"
With that, the Supreme Intelligence ended its conversation, and the projection dissipated before the group.
At the same time, a massive, angular black warship with two wings slowly appeared and entered Earth's atmosphere.
Carol's expression shifted as she gazed at the enormous vessel. She addressed the others: "That's a planet-class battleship—top-tier even among Kree fleets. There aren't many of them.
Excluding the one destroyed when Ronan the Accuser died on Xandar, the Kree only have six of this class remaining.
I didn't expect them to bring one to Earth!"
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