"Forget the Enchantress for a moment. You're telling me that this sneaky thief stealing my clothes is considered a major threat?" Doom folded his arms and sneered.
"Anything that ruins someone's peace of mind could be considered a major threat," Noah replied absentmindedly.
He stepped closer to examine the situation. The heads of the Enchantress and Ash had completely turned to ash, leaving no trace of life.
However, Ash, with his reputation as a semi-comedic protagonist, would hardly meet his end so definitively. For every Ash that perished in this universe, another seemed to pop up in the Evil Dead universe elsewhere.
This was precisely how there had been reports of two Ash Williams appearing simultaneously in New York City.
While Noah was observing Ash's remains disintegrate, a figure suddenly rushed out from behind the group, shouting in disbelief, "What have you done?! You killed him!"
The newcomer, her golden hair flowing and shimmering faintly, wore a snug, white bodysuit and a blue mask reminiscent of a carnival prince.
Doom turned around, his expression unreadable beneath his iron mask. He stared at the intruding Dazzler with disdain. "This clown you brought here not only intended to release Doom's prisoner but also dared to impersonate me. Such acts are a grave insult."
"Death is the punishment he deserved. Do you disagree?"
Dazzler's face turned pale, but just as she began to protest, Susan stepped forward, gently pulling the impulsive young woman aside. With her hands on Dazzler's shoulders, she offered comfort to the shaken mutant.
Dazzler's powers allowed her to transform her melodious singing voice into bursts of radiant light. While her abilities were unique, she was hardly a threat. To Doom, eliminating someone like her would be as effortless as crushing an insect.
Susan's intervention was a subtle move to protect her. While Doom was chivalrous and treated women with respect, he wouldn't hesitate to act when necessary. Though he might not outright kill Dazzler, imprisoning her or banishing her from Doomstadt would be trivial for him—a punishment arguably more cruel than death.
"Hmph, useless distractions. Fury and his team have already reached Latveria. Let's go."
Seeing Dazzler lower her head in silence, Doom snorted and turned to lead the group away.
Meanwhile, Fury stood by the window of a Quinjet, gazing calmly at the approaching Doomstadt.
"Latverian air control has given us clearance to land. Should we deploy a few jets first to assess the situation?" Maria Hill asked quietly as she approached.
"No need. Doom doesn't play petty games with such things. If he intended to harm us, he wouldn't wait for us to land."
"And the item? Is it ready?"
"Here it is."
Hill nodded, retrieving a briefcase from a nearby agent and handing it to Fury.
The case was sleek and sturdy, crafted from high-quality black leather, with a smooth surface devoid of embellishments except for a small S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia at its center.
Taking the case, Fury glanced downward. The wide airfield below already held a Quinjet—the one Noah and his group had previously used.
As his own jet descended, Fury felt a slight pressure as gravity shifted. The cabin doors opened slowly, letting in a bright beam of sunlight and a gust of wind that made his coat billow dramatically.
The bustling airfield was filled with people, some of whom had gathered to welcome the new arrivals.
"Welcome to Latveria."
Feeling the wind from the landing jet, Noah smiled and spread his arms in greeting as Fury and his team disembarked.
Around them, a dozen other Quinjets were also landing. Some of those disembarking hugged each other tearfully, their relief palpable. The fall of the Helicarrier had been a terrifying event, and many of these survivors had narrowly escaped encounters with the infected.
The group stepping off these planes could be considered among the luckiest people alive. They had not only survived the initial outbreak but had also evaded the second disaster of the Helicarrier's fall.
Fury's lips twitched at Noah's overly enthusiastic welcome, but he still approached and gave him a brief hug. "You've only been here a few hours, and you're already one of Latveria's people?"
"I didn't say that. That's all in your head," Noah replied with a shrug.
Before their exchange could continue, Doom's imposing figure appeared before them. His green cloak billowed in the breeze, and his iron mask concealed any emotion he might have had.
Doom's gaze briefly shifted to Johnny, Susan, and Ben, who were joyfully embracing each other in the distance. For the Fantastic Three, they were now each other's last remaining family.
Then, turning back to Fury, Doom's voice dripped with mockery. "So, Colonel Fury, where are the rest of your Avengers? I hear they've been busy exacting 'revenge' on civilians."
Fury's face darkened at the jab, but he didn't immediately respond.
Noah sighed, stepping between the two to mediate. "Doom, perhaps as the host, you could show some of the famed Latverian hospitality. These people have just endured a harrowing battle and need rest. I'm sure they'll repay your kindness by defending Doomstadt."
"And Fury, the past is the past. What matters now is ensuring the safety of those still alive."
Fury exhaled deeply, visibly trying to control his temper. He knew Noah was right.
Doom, too, seemed to accept the logic in Noah's words and refrained from pressing further. For now, a tenuous truce was established.
With the immediate tension defused, Noah turned to head back to the castle for some rest.
But before he could leave, Fury called out, "Mr. Noah, wait. S.H.I.E.L.D. has a gift for you."
Intrigued, Noah turned back. "A gift? What kind of gift?"