Aboard the Kree Cruiser.
Things weren't looking good.
Fury and Talos had tried using Kree weapons to fight back, but those weapons had built-in identification systems. After firing just a few rounds, the system detected that the users weren't Kree and immediately shut down.
If not for Goose, who had been left behind by Reid, showing its incredible devouring abilities as a Flerken at the critical moment, Fury and Talos would have already been dead.
"So this is what you call a Flerken?"
Fury carefully picked up Goose. He was afraid, but this was their last resort against the Kree.
Talos, standing nearby, took a step farther away from him.
"I told you before," he said with obvious apprehension. "It's a Flerken. Inside its body is a pocket dimension that can devour anything. If the situation were not so dire, I would have done everything in my power to keep it from opening its mouth."
Unfortunately, even with Goose, all Fury and Talos could do was hold their ground in the Skrull prison. Fighting their way out wasn't an option.
Goose could extend tentacles from its mouth and swallow enemies whole, but at its core, it was still a carbon-based creature. It could be injured. It could die.
And the Kree, for all their arrogance, surely had countermeasures. Relying on the Flerken alone for an all-out attack was too risky. Worse yet, there was no guarantee it would even obey them.
Meanwhile, on another part of the cruiser, Reid was locked in battle with Korath. Even though he had the upper hand, he still couldn't defeat his opponent.
The battle-hardened Kree warriors, especially the elite fighters skilled in close combat, were no less formidable in technique than famous superheroes. They were simply not well-known; that did not mean they lacked ability.
As for Carol, the strongest among them and the one carrying the most hope, her situation was the worst.
Her memories were about to be completely rewritten.
....
Inside Carol's mind.
In the depths of her consciousness, the Supreme Intelligence looked down at her collapsed form, a smirk of disdain curling on its lips.
So what if she had the power to destroy Kree warships with ease? In the end, she still couldn't resist the might of the Kree Empire.
"Yes, that's it. Remember, Vers, you are a proud Kree warrior. You fight for the Kree!"
Carol's eyes lost their fire. Any moment now, the Supreme Intelligence would complete its work. This wasn't just about altering her memories anymore; it was a complete rewrite—a transformation of her very identity.
But then, a ball of fire suddenly appeared in the sky above the realm of consciousness.
From the ball of fire emerged a green-skinned figure with piercing red eyes, exuding an aura of strength and wisdom: 'Martian Manhunter.'
The Supreme Intelligence's expression flickered with shock.
"What's happening? How can there be such a powerful mind?!"
It hadn't expected this intruder to wield such overwhelming mental strength. Even with the combined intellect of the entire Kree race, it still couldn't compare to him.
But that was only natural.
Martians, as a race, possessed immense telepathic abilities. Among them, J'onn J'onzz was a Manhunter—a law enforcer and guardian of his people. In the New 52 continuity, he even became the King of the Martians. He was the strongest and most unique of his kind.
"You—what do you want?!"
The Supreme Intelligence watched him warily. It had a feeling that this green-skinned being—so similar in appearance to the Skrulls—was about to ruin everything.
"I am here to return Carol's true past to her," replied 'Martian Manhunter' calmly as he walked toward Carol.
"No! I won't let you do this!"
Summoning the collective will of the entire Kree race, the Supreme Intelligence launched a powerful mental attack.
However, 'Martian Manhunter' didn't even flinch.
How could an entity with no true consciousness of its own hope to defeat a Martian in the realm of the mind? With ease, a mental barrier formed around him, effortlessly blocking the Supreme Intelligence's assault.
"No! Stop!"
The Supreme Intelligence shouted desperately as 'Martian Manhunter' knelt beside Carol, reaching toward her forehead. But there was nothing it could do.
The moment his fingers touched her, the false memories implanted by the Supreme Intelligence shattered.
Pain flashed across Carol's face.
"Do not be afraid, Carol," 'Martian Manhunter's' voice resonated in her mind. "Soon, everything that was taken from you will be yours again."
Then, like a dam breaking, her true memories surged forward.
She remembered her life, from childhood until now. She remembered how people had always looked down on her.
Her father thought she should stay home and play with dolls.
Her teachers had doubted she could make it into the Air Force Academy.
Her fellow cadets didn't believe she could pass the pilot tests.
Her commanding officers thought she wasn't fit for combat missions.
At every turn, Carol had been told she wasn't good enough. But every single time, she got back up.
Because of her will. Because of her brother.
She saw him in her memories, pointing up at the stars, speaking of a future without limits. And now, a Martian with green skin and a warm smile—J'onn J'onzz—was returning that lost future to her.
Carol reached out. She took her future from 'Martian Manhunter's' hands. And with it, she reclaimed her true power—the will to never give up.
She rose to her feet and faced the Supreme Intelligence.
"Looks like your plan failed, Supreme Intelligence."
Seeing Carol fully restored, 'Martian Manhunter' moved to release her hand and sever their mental link. But before he could, she gripped him even tighter.
"Don't leave my mind, J'onn. I like this connection between us."
'Martian Manhunter's' eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected Carol to trust him this much. But since she embraced it, he saw no reason to resist.
Carol noticed his acceptance and smiled. Then, with her free hand, she reached for the suppression device on the back of her neck. With a firm squeeze, she crushed it and let the broken remains fall to the ground.
"I've been fighting with one hand tied. Now, let's do this properly."
The Supreme Intelligence, an AI embodying the collective wisdom of the Kree, showed something it was never meant to—fear.
In the next moment, Carol unleashed the full power within her. The mindscape created by the Supreme Intelligence shattered under the sheer force of her energy.
...
Back in reality, Yon-Rogg had been standing guard over Carol. But as the suppression device cracked and power surged through her body, his expression turned to horror.
"Impossible! She broke free!"
A massive explosion of photon energy erupted. Yon-Rogg was sent flying, crashing to the ground.
Carol, surrounded by waves of pulsing energy, had finally gained full control over her power.
"It's time to put an end to the Kree invasion."
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