"Tony, how's the contact with the others?"
"Everyone's been reached. They can begin immediately."
Hearing Tony's response, Sebastian looked at Carol and Black Bolt. "Wait a moment. I'll send your people and the Avengers into the battleship together. We'll search for the innocent Inhuman captives and get them out. As for preventing the battleship from moving or escaping, I'll leave that to you two—Carol and Black Bolt. Can you handle it?"
The Kree planet-class battleship was indeed formidable, but for Carol and Black Bolt, it wasn't an insurmountable threat. If they weren't concerned about the people inside, the two of them could likely destroy the battleship with relative ease. While merely containing it without destroying it was more difficult, it wasn't impossible for them.
Black Bolt immediately nodded his agreement. Carol spoke directly: "Understood. Leave it to us. But you'd better act quickly and get everyone out. Even with both of us delaying them, we won't be able to hold out indefinitely."
"Alright, leave it to me!"
With that, Sebastian transformed into a twisting vortex and vanished. Immediately, portals opened across the world, bringing the prepared Avengers to the Kree warship.
Tony and Rhodes watched as portals appeared before them and stepped through directly.
Tony entered first. Rhodes cast a brief glance at Carol before following and entering the warship's interior.
Once inside, Tony immediately saw multiple other portals opening. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team, the Avengers, and even several members of the Inhuman Royal Family had all arrived.
The Avengers were present in full force. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s contingent was primarily Coulson's team—fully armed and, with Skye's newly awakened powers, more than capable of handling whatever came their way.
As for the Royal Family, they were all there as well, having apparently received orders from Black Bolt through some unique method of communication.
Sebastian looked at the assembled group and spoke directly: "You should all be aware of the situation. From this point forward, we must rescue all the innocent Inhuman captives aboard this ship. However, exercise caution while searching—there may be rebel Inhumans among them who've sided with the Kree. While rescuing the innocents, protect yourselves as well."
With these words, Sebastian waved his wand. Simple black raven symbols flew out, landing on everyone's palms.
"As soon as you find any innocent Inhumans, use this to contact me immediately. Just speak to the mark, and I'll hear you. I'll open a portal and evacuate them. Since Black Bolt and Carol can't hold out indefinitely, I urge you to stay safe and locate all the innocents as quickly as possible."
After saying this, Sebastian turned to Wanda, smiled and nodded at her, then vanished in a swirl of black smoke.
Seeing Sebastian's departure, the others immediately sprang into action. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team didn't split up—the danger here was too great for them to separate. They moved as a unit.
Barton and Natasha, skilled operatives but still ordinary humans, paired up or formed small groups. The more powerful Avengers—Tony, Rhodes, and Vision—operated independently. Everyone dispersed throughout the ship, searching for the innocent Inhuman captives.
Whoosh!
Sebastian suddenly appeared in a spacious holding room, waving his wand and sending six heavily armed Kree soldiers flying against the walls.
Glancing at the thirty or so Inhumans cowering in the corner, Sebastian immediately cast Legilimency on one of the unconscious soldiers, reading his memories. Once he confirmed these Inhumans were innocent captives, he waved his wand and opened a portal.
"Everyone, you can leave through here. Go now!"
Sebastian gestured, but the Inhumans remained cowering, completely ignoring his command—too terrified to move.
Sighing helplessly, Sebastian waved his wand again. The portal rapidly expanded, and with another flick of his wand, the Inhumans were levitated directly through it, transported to the New World Sky Fortress, which had landed and was hovering above the surface.
With that done, Sebastian vanished, searching for the next group of innocent captives.
Meanwhile, he received requests from Tony, Medusa, and others to open portals. After locating their positions, he immediately complied. Once they'd evacuated the Inhumans, Sebastian would close the portals upon request.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
A group of Kree soldiers' weapons flew from their hands, clattering at Sebastian's feet. Immediately afterward, their bodies—as if controlled by invisible strings—slammed repeatedly against the floor and ceiling until they fell unconscious.
Sebastian blasted the locked door open with a spell and looked at the dozen or so Inhumans inside. He was about to open another portal to evacuate them.
But at that moment, Sebastian felt a tingling sensation on the back of his neck—a warning. Without hesitation, he raised his wand, its tip radiating light as an invisible barrier enveloped him like armor.
"Protego!"
Bang!
An Inhuman materialized from invisibility. A pair of sharp, hideous bone spurs protruding from his wrists struck Sebastian's shield, unable to penetrate it.
At the same time, five more Inhumans from among the group leaped out and attacked Sebastian. They were clearly rebels serving under Maximus's command!
Sebastian showed no mercy toward the traitors. He swung his wand and cast a series of lethal spells, collecting their souls as they fell. Lately, Sebastian had been running low on souls for his work, so he felt no compunction about harvesting these.
He gathered the six soul orbs into his palm, then waved his wand once more. Hellfire quickly consumed their bodies, leaving no trace.
Sebastian opened the portal again, preparing to evacuate the remaining Inhumans.
But at that moment, a young man—about fifteen or sixteen years old with striking silver eyes—suddenly approached him. "I can distinguish between good and evil in a person and understand their spirit. I can help you identify the innocents, and I can also help you find the rebels. Take me with you!"
---------------------
Want to Read Chapters Ahead?
patreon.com/Daoist_Kalyug
