With the arrival of Wonder Woman and Cyborg, the Special Forces members collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The oppressive atmosphere brought by their enemy lessened slightly, though their nerves remained taut.
"Step back," Cyborg said, gesturing with his hand. "Clear the battlefield and leave this to us."
"Be careful," Duke replied, nodding. He then commanded, "Everyone, fall back! Move out!"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Washington office wasn't located in a densely populated area, so there were only a few civilians nearby. This reduced the risk of collateral damage.
As the Special Forces withdrew, they kept an eye on their surroundings, ensuring that no innocent lives were put at risk. Their experience in handling aftermath scenarios was extensive.
Following the Battle of New York, the World Security Council sidelined S.H.I.E.L.D., promoting the Special Forces to take over its role. As a result, the Special Forces were heavily involved in post-conflict cleanup operations in New York.
While monitoring the external situation, Duke remained focused on the internal conflict—the confrontation between two Justice League superheroes and their mysterious opponent.
"An alien?"
Duke replayed the image of the woman face in his mind. Something felt off.
That woman… she didn't look alien. She seemed unmistakably human.
As he mulled it over, the battle began.
Captain Marvel—Carol Danvers—raised her hand, unleashing a devastating energy beam. The blast seemed to pierce through space itself, with no delay or chance for Wonder Woman or Cyborg to react before it struck them.
Fortunately, the two had anticipated such an attack.
Upon arrival, Wonder Woman had activated her divine power, conjuring a protective shield of divine energy.
The transparent shield absorbed the impact of the energy beam, deflecting the attack.
In response, Cyborg launched a counterattack, firing a missile that trailed flames as it homed in on Carol.
Neither side showed any restraint during the exchange.
The Special Forces team had already evacuated the building, and the one individual who might have cared about collateral damage—Carol, ostensibly there to save Tyler Hayward—appeared to have abandoned her protective stance.
Hayward, pale with fear, scrambled to hide behind debris, shielding himself from the shockwaves of the ongoing battle.
"This level of power…"
Cyborg stared impassively at Captain Marvel, his suspicions solidifying.
This wasn't the real deal.
In the comics, the Skrulls had created a Super Skrull,
After the Fantastic Four thwarted the Skrulls attempt to invade Earth, the Skrull Emperor chose , a Skrull soldier, for enhancement.
Through genetic modification, was imbued with the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four, each at a level surpassing the originals:
Greater physical strength than The Thing.
Superior flight and flame manipulation compared to the Human Torch.
More refined invisibility and telekinetic skills than the Invisible Woman.
Exceptional elasticity exceeding that of Mister Fantastic.
Additionally, retained the Skrulls innate shapeshifting abilities and hypnotic powers.
With these modifications complete, was given a new title—Super Skrull—and was sent to Earth to defeat the Fantastic Four, paving the way for a renewed Skrull invasion.
This was all part of the comic book lore.
In the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, the first human superhero to encounter the Skrulls had been Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers.
Now, the pieces began to fall into place. This was no ordinary adversary but a Skrull mimic—perhaps even a Super Skrull designed to destabilize Earth mightiest defenders.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Carol Danvers even defeated the Kree Empire army, which had been sent to eliminate the Skrulls, rescuing the Skrulls from their dire predicament.
Given this context, it only natural to imagine that the Skrulls, having witnessed the immense power of Captain Marvel, would covet her abilities.
As a result, the Super Skrull, who originally wielded the powers of the Fantastic Four in the comics, was now reimagined as a being imbued with Captain Marvel abilities.
When you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Facing Cyborg missile, the fake Carol—clearly the Super Skrull—showed no signs of panic. She didn't even attempt to dodge.
Instead, she raised her arm and unleashed a radiant burst of energy.
The blinding light caused both Wonder Woman and Cyborg to narrow their eyes momentarily.
It felt as though invisible flames were rising in the air, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of energy radiating from her body.
The sheer force caused nearby buildings to tremble violently, as if an earthquake had struck, making it hard for anyone to stand upright amidst the swaying and shaking.
The missile collided with an invisible barrier and exploded in the epicenter of their standoff.
"This…"
From outside, the Special Forces members stared at the shaking building in shock, their faces a mix of awe and fear.
"Here we go again."
"Damn it, why are there more and more superpowered individuals in this world?"
"We should consider upgrading our equipment…"
The Special Forces soldiers gritted their teeth as they exchanged grim remarks.
The next moment.
The building in front of them could no longer bear the strain. Under the relentless assault of the unprecedented energy waves, it collapsed with a deafening roar.
Dust and debris billowed into the air, carried by the intense shockwaves that spread in all directions.
"Do you think Tyler Hayward got crushed to death?"
"We can only wish him luck."
As the Special Forces members spoke, three figures emerged from the swirling dust cloud, ignoring the falling rubble from the collapsing structure, and shot upward into the Washington sky.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three streaks of light spiraled upward, engaging in a ferocious aerial battle as the Special Forces team and the surrounding onlookers watched in astonishment.
This scene quickly captured the attention of many Washington residents.
"What that?"
"It Cyborg! And Wonder Woman!"
"But who fighting them?"
People exchanged uncertain glances, their faces full of doubt and unease.
Soon after, some took out their phones, their expressions turning to excitement as they realized something monumental was unfolding before their eyes.
Boom! Boom!
The clear blue sky erupted with terrifying shockwaves and bursts of fire, resembling grand fireworks.
Three figures clashed repeatedly in midair.
Under the gaze of the astonished crowd, the unfamiliar blonde woman held her own against two Justice League members, showcasing incredible skills and abilities.
The spectators couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety.
Although they didn't know the identity of the enemy, the fact that she was fighting two members of the Justice League was enough to confirm she wasn't on the side of good.
Naturally, no one wanted to see the Justice League lose.
Meanwhile.
The jet belonging to Tony Stark, carrying Anton and his team, raced toward Washington at top speed.
Watching the intense footage transmitted from the Special Forces body cams, their expressions were grim.
Anton, in particular, appeared deeply contemplative.
He realized that the Super Skrull impersonating Captain Marvel was far more formidable than he had anticipated.
Just like the original Super Skrull from the comics, this impostor didn't merely mimic the appearance of other superpowered individuals the abilities they wielded after transformation were often superior to those of the original.
"So, this fake Captain Marvel might actually be stronger than the real Carol Danvers?"
Anton frowned slightly.
If that were the case, relying solely on Wonder Woman and Cyborg to subdue this opponent might not be enough.