They weren't from Ronan's fleet, but another Kree squad specifically tracking Carol, led by her former Commander, Yon-Rogg, who had deceived her for six years.
In the ship's main cabin, Carol was unscathed, but the fire in her eyes burned hotter than any wound.
Around her lay five Kree warriors, all former teammates who had fought alongside her for six years.
At the other end of the cabin, Yon-Rogg leaned against a row of consoles, his chest armor dented and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
The energy rifle in his hand had been snapped by Carol with her bare hands; now, he could only struggle futilely to stand.
"Carol..." he gasped. "Don't you understand? You're Kree! You're our finest warrior! Those Skrulls... they're monsters, liars, they twisted your memories..."
"No." Carol stood up, golden energy beginning to overflow from her body, enveloping her like flames.
"You're the ones who twisted my memories, Commander... no, Yon-Rogg."
She walked toward him step by step, each footfall making the deck vibrate slightly. "Six years ago, I was the one who destroyed the light-speed engine. It wasn't a Skrull attack, and it wasn't an accident. I wanted to stop you from getting that technology because I knew you'd use it to wage war."
The fragments of her memory clicked into place during the battle—that explosion that changed her fate, how the Kree took her as she lay dying, tampered with her memories, and turned her into a weapon...
And most importantly, the true source of her power wasn't Kree modification, but the cosmic energy released when the light-speed engine exploded, mixed with radiation from the Tesseract. She was a being chosen by the Universe itself.
"You implanted a chip in me and connected me to the Supreme Intelligence, not to 'help me control my power'." Carol's voice trembled with rage.
"It was to limit me, to monitor me, to ensure I would always be a dog of the Kree Empire."
During the fight just now, she had broken free from the Supreme Intelligence's control and destroyed the chip implanted in her neck.
The moment the chip left her body, Carol felt an unprecedented sense of... freedom.
Like someone who had worn heavy shackles suddenly shedding all restraints, like someone being smothered finally able to breathe freely.
The energy within her was no longer restricted, channeled, or suppressed; it surged forth like a bursting dam, filling every inch of her body and every cell.
Golden energy erupted from her like a supernova, instantly filling the entire cabin.
Light, endless light—warm but not burning, bright but not blinding. Yon-Rogg had to shield his eyes with his arm.
Amidst the radiance, Carol floated upward.
Her blonde hair billowed without wind, her eyes turned pure gold, and veins of light flowed beneath her skin.
Power, so immense, so... complete.
She could feel the pulse of the Universe. If she wanted to, she could tear this ship apart with her bare hands.
"This is me..." she murmured to herself, clenching her fists. "This is the real me."
Yon-Rogg stared at her blankly, watching this "weapon" he had trained for six years and thought he fully controlled now displaying a god-like form.
He finally understood that the Kree Empire had never truly controlled Carol Danvers; they had only temporarily sealed a volcano.
And volcanoes, eventually, erupt.
Carol slowly touched down, the light gradually receding, but the gold in her eyes did not fade.
She walked up to Yon-Rogg and looked down at him.
"Go back and tell the Supreme Intelligence."
"Tell all the Kree: I am not your weapon, not your property. I am an Earthling. I am Carol Danvers."
She paused and added:
"And I will come back for you, for everyone oppressed by the Kree Empire, for the justice of the Universe. Until then, tell your people to stay away from Earth!"
Yon-Rogg opened his mouth to say something, but finally only managed to squeeze out: "You'll regret this, Carol. You have no chance of winning against the Kree Empire."
"Then bring it on." Carol turned away, no longer looking at him.
She threw Yon-Rogg into his own ship, then reached out and fired a blast of energy to ignite the engine.
The ship immediately started up and headed toward its set destination.
When the Kree assault craft detached from the mothership and vanished into the starry sky, peace finally returned to the ship.
But the damage was done. There were multiple punctures in the hull, the life support system was leaking, and an auxiliary thruster of the main engine had been hit by a stray bullet, now sparking with electricity.
"Damage assessment?" Talos asked the engineer who had rushed over.
"Not too severe, but it will take at least eight hours of repairs before it's safe for long-distance flight," the engineer reported.
"The most troublesome part is that thruster. If we force a start, it might explode."
Talos frowned. Eight hours... who knew if the Kree would send more fleets? But they had no choice.
Just then, the main airlock door of the cabin slid open, and Mavuika walked in.
She was spotless, her expression calm as usual, as if she hadn't just intercepted an alien fleet but had merely taken a stroll.
All the Skrulls immediately grew tense, including Talos. They had just experienced a Kree attack, and now, facing this true deity, awe and fear intertwined.
After all, no matter how justified their reasons, it was a fact that they had entered the Nine Realms without permission. According to cosmic law, Asgard had the right to judge or even execute them.
Mavuika looked around, her gaze sweeping over the battle scars and damaged equipment, finally landing on Carol, who had just released her restraints and still radiated a faint golden glow.
"It seems you've resolved your own troubles as well," she said, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet cabin.
Talos hurried forward and bowed deeply. "Your Highness sun goddess, yes, a Kree squad ambushed us, but Ms. Carol defeated them..."
"The Kree warships have been driven back by me," Mavuika interrupted him, her tone flat. "They shouldn't dare return for a while."
Talos and the surrounding Skrulls breathed a sigh of relief, but Mavuika's next words made them tense up again.
"While I can understand your plight..." Mavuika continued, her gaze turning serious. "The Nine Realms are not your home, after all. Do you understand?"
These words were like an eviction notice, clear and direct.
Talos's heart sank, but he had been mentally prepared.
He immediately nodded, his tone respectful and humble. "We understand, Your Highness sun goddess. We never intended to stay long; we are just waiting for the ship to be repaired. Once it is fixed, we will leave immediately."