341

Chapter 341:

– Layla –

I had to admit, I was one sexy CEO bitch... I could finally see why Penemue enjoyed this.

My long black hair was tied back into a smooth ponytail, and I wore a tight, tailored business suit in striking black and purple silk. It clung snugly to every one of my curves, emphasizing my figure in a way that drew attention wherever I went.

And right now, sitting across from Danny Hebert, the leader of the Brockton Bay Dockworkers Association, I could tell exactly where his attention kept drifting.

Danny was clearly doing his absolute best to maintain eye contact with me and not stare openly at my large chest, but the poor man was losing the battle miserably. Every few moments, his gaze would slip downward, linger a bit too long, and then snap back to my face with an embarrassed flush rising in his cheeks.

Honestly, I found his struggle amusing.

Finally deciding to put him out of his misery, I cleared my throat gently and gave him my most professional yet inviting smile. "Mr. Hebert, it's genuinely nice to meet you," I began smoothly. "When Fallcorp announced we’d be establishing our main branch here in Brockton Bay, I was very pleased to hear from your people. How can we help each other today?”

Danny cleared his throat, visibly pulling himself together. He straightened in his chair and managed to maintain eye contact, looking surprisingly sincere and focused when he spoke. “I'm not really one for small talk, so I'll cut straight to the point,” he said, his voice firm and steady. “The Dockworkers Association has hundreds—actually closer to a couple thousand—good, hard-working men. Family men. They’ve been struggling for years just to keep food on the table. Keeping them employed has been getting harder and harder. They just need a chance. A shot at something stable, something better. A chance to make their lives and the lives of their families better. Because this city—it’s not just where they work, it’s their home.”

As he spoke, I quietly observed him, letting my unique abilities peer deeper into his soul.

Danny Hebert was a good man. A man who had recently suffered greatly, carrying a quiet burden of pain and worry, but whose heart genuinely beat for the wellbeing of the people depending on him.

Men like him were rare.

I leaned forward slightly, keeping my voice warm yet serious, making sure he understood how deeply his words resonated with me. “Danny, I truly appreciate your honesty,” I said, smiling reassuringly. “And I completely understand where you're coming from. Fallcorp isn’t here to turn a profit. We want to uplift this world and all its communities, and that starts with the workers right here in Brockton Bay. As CEO, I promise you that when it comes to our labor needs, we will absolutely prioritize local workers. I would be more than happy to negotiate a deal with you and the Dockworkers Association immediately.”

Danny’s eyes widened slightly with cautious hope. "You really mean that? Because promises have been made before…”

I lifted a hand gently, cutting him off but with kindness rather than authority. “Danny, I understand why you're wary. You’ve clearly been let down too many times. But let me be perfectly clear—when I make a promise, I keep it. Fallcorp will be good for Brockton Bay, and your people will benefit from our presence here. I'm not interested in empty words or half measures. I'm interested in making real, tangible changes for the better.”

He took a deep breath, and I saw some of the tension visibly drain from his shoulders. He gave me a small, grateful nod. “Thank you, Ms. Layla. If what you're saying is true, then you have no idea what this could mean for my workers—for all our families.”

I smiled warmly again, feeling genuinely pleased. “I think I have an idea. But I’m looking forward to showing you and the dockworkers exactly how serious I am. Let’s start working out the details right away, shall we?”

Danny nodded again, finally looking genuinely hopeful. “Yeah. Let’s do that…”

An hour later.

…There wasn't any need for the negotiations to drag out.

I wasn't some corporate hardass trying to squeeze every last penny out of a deal. I was a supreme goddess—here to genuinely help people and teach them how to save themselves.

Danny Hebert had come into my office at Fallcorp prepared to do his absolute best, possibly expecting some tough negotiations over wages and benefits. I could tell from his expression that he fully anticipated me offering his dockworkers the bare minimum, a scenario he was clearly dreading but preparing himself to fight tooth and nail.

Instead, I looked Danny straight in the eyes and announced calmly and clearly, “Every single worker will start at ten times above minimum wage. They'll have full medical, dental, vision, retirement, and comprehensive benefits not just for themselves, but their entire families.”

The poor guy’s eyes rolled back in his head almost immediately, and he slumped forward in his chair, completely unconscious.

“Shit!” I cursed, panic rising sharply in my chest as I darted forward. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally give this genuinely good man a stroke or heart attack from sheer shock. He was a single father trying to take care of a teenage daughter, after all.

…Killing him with kindness wasn’t exactly the reputation I wanted to start with. Even if I could just bring him back.

Quickly placing my hand gently on his chest, I let a trickle of divine energy flow into his body, carefully stabilizing his heart rate and blood pressure. Within moments, his eyelids fluttered open again, and he stared up at me in complete bewilderment.

“Are you okay, Danny?” I asked softly, kneeling beside him. "I didn't mean to nearly kill you there."

He sat up slowly, his face turning an embarrassed shade of red. “I’m… I’m fine. It’s just—did you seriously mean all that? Ten times above minimum wage? Full benefits for entire families?”

I smiled warmly, helping him back into his chair. “Yes, Danny. Every word. Fallcorp takes care of its people. I meant it when I said we’re here to make a real difference.”

Danny rubbed his face, visibly overwhelmed. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and reached for the paperwork, signing it eagerly, as if worried I might suddenly change my mind.

A short while later, with the contracts securely finalized, I invited Danny up to the rooftop of Fallcorp’s newly constructed skyscraper in Brockton Bay. The building had appeared with supernatural speed, a fact we easily explained away by claiming we’d contracted some talented cape construction crews.

This world had plenty of those, thankfully.

Stepping out onto the rooftop, Danny immediately halted, his breath hitching in awe as we took in the sweeping view of the entire bayside city. The sprawling lights and buildings stretched out below us, glittering beautifully under the twilight sky.

“This view is…incredible,” Danny murmured softly, his eyes wide.

“I thought you might enjoy it,” I said gently, walking up to stand beside him at the railing. “This city means a lot to you, doesn't it?”

He nodded solemnly, eyes full of genuine emotion. “Brockton Bay has always been home. But it's been suffering for so long. So many good people are hurting, desperate for any kind of hope.” He turned, meeting my eyes with quiet gratitude. “What you’re doing here, Layla… It’s going to change their lives. All of our lives.”

I smiled again, feeling genuinely touched by his sincerity.

Brockton Bay was…in trouble. If I had to put it plainly—and I preferred plain speaking—it wasn’t exactly a dump, but it sure as hell wasn’t a bustling hub of trade and commerce. The city was struggling, caught in the vicious grip of multiple rival powers, three of which were outright gangs.

The first gang was nothing but drugged-out idiots, barely functional as a criminal enterprise. The second group was run by some crazy man cosplaying as a dragon, which would have been funny if he also wasn't apparently kidnapping women for sexual slavery. That was very much not funny, and he wasn't going to be in the city much longer if I had anything to say about it. And I did—I really, really did.

...And the third gang—well, they were literal fucking Nazis. Just the thought of Nazis operating openly made my blood boil and my jaw clench in barely controlled fury. If there was anything in any universe I utterly despised, it was Nazis.

Fallcorp's modern sleek, towering skyscraper stood proudly and defiantly right in the heart of the city, deliberately disrespecting any of the gang territories. If any of those idiots even dreamed about making trouble, I couldn’t help but chuckle darkly. I'd love to see them try.

It would be their funeral.

[Many... many funerals...]

Danny stood beside me. He glanced at me curiously. “Layla, you said you had something important to show me?”

I smirked knowingly and raised my hand, pointing out across the bay. His eyes followed my finger, focusing on the massive, grounded tanker ship that had been blocking the bay for years. The ship sat rusted, tilted at an awkward angle, a constant ugly reminder of the city's decline.

“What exactly am I looking at?” he asked slowly, confusion creeping into his voice.

I smiled. “Just watch.”

Suddenly, the enormous tanker ship trembled, the water around it rippling violently. Danny’s eyes widened sharply, his mouth dropping open in stunned disbelief as the gigantic ship rose slowly and steadily from the bay, dripping seawater cascading down its sides like miniature waterfalls.

Captain Marvel, my sexy superhero lover, hovered effortlessly beneath the colossal vessel, holding the entire thing with ease. It was honestly sexy as hell.

Danny gaped openly, completely stunned. “Holy shit,” he finally managed to whisper hoarsely, barely audible over the distant sound of rushing water. “I saw the TV commercials. Captain Marvel bragged about being the strongest cape in the world. But I…I thought it was just hype. Just for publicity!”

I flashed him a playful, knowing smirk. “Danny, not a single thing in that commercial was a lie.”

His eyes widened even further in realization, his mouth working silently for a moment before he managed to find words. “Jesus Christ, Layla…”

We both watched as Captain Marvel effortlessly flew away from the bay, carrying the gigantic tanker ship further out to sea, far enough that it would no longer cause any problems or block shipping lanes. That would allow Fallcorp to start distributing our world changing products all over the seas.

After we dealt with the giant evil sea monster first and foremost.

– Carol –

Carol soared high above the open ocean, heading back towards Brockton Bay after ditching the massive, rusted tanker ship deep in international waters. Admittedly, abandoning an entire tanker ship wasn't exactly environmentally friendly, but she'd shrugged off the guilt quickly. There weren't exactly cities lining up to take on the rusty monstrosity cluttering their coastlines, so this was the best immediate solution they'd agreed upon.

As she neared Brockton Bay, Carol noticed the immediate visual impact. Sure, there was still plenty of smaller trash drifting around, but just the removal of the huge ship made the bay feel cleaner and far less depressing. Captain Marvel's radiant rainbow aura flickered off as she landed gracefully onto the sandy beach, her boots sinking lightly into the warm sand.

A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd gathered nearby. Ordinary citizens applauded enthusiastically, some waving excitedly while others chanted her name repeatedly.

"Captain Marvel, you're amazing!"

"Thank you for cleaning up our bay!"

"We love you, Captain Marvel!"

Carol smiled genuinely, feeling warmth bloom in her chest. Moments like these reminded her why being a hero was worth every bit of the stress and struggle.

But her moment of satisfaction was short-lived as she turned her gaze further along the shoreline. A group of "Capes" stood waiting, clearly agitated. Members of the local Brockton Bay Protectorate were lined up, with Armsmaster positioned prominently at the front. Behind him stood Dauntless, Velocity, Miss Militia, and Triumph—practically all their heavy hitters. Except for Assault and Battery.

Carol raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Was this supposed to intimidate her?

She adopted the confident, practiced smile Penemue had meticulously trained both her and Layla to wear in public settings and approached the group.

Armsmaster took a step forward. "Captain Marvel," he started gruffly, clearly uncomfortable being diplomatic or whatever. "That was… quite the spectacle…" he sounded almost jealous. Obviously he’d never be able to pull off such a feat.

"Spectacle?" Carol repeated, maintaining her composed smile. "Just doing my part to clean up the city. I'm surprised you hadn't gotten around to it sooner, actually."

The gathered civilians began whispering excitedly among themselves, sensing that something big was about to unfold, though none of them realized just how unpleasant this confrontation was likely to become for Carol. She glanced toward the group of capes from the Protectorate approaching her with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

Why were they even here? Was this meant to intimidate her? If so, it was laughably ineffective.

Carol sighed inwardly, her patience wearing thin. All she truly wanted was to return to Fallcorp Tower and finally, after two exhausting weeks of non-stop work, spend some uninterrupted private time with Layla. Her thoughts wandered deliciously toward the many pleasurable hours she intended to share with her lover beneath the sheets—naked, sweaty, and completely wrapped up in each other's bodies without any damn interruptions. Tonight, she decided firmly, nothing was going to keep her from that.

But first, she supposed she needed to figure out exactly what these costumed annoyances wanted from her.

"That was incredibly reckless," Miss Militia abruptly snapped, breaking Carol from her pleasant reverie. She jabbed a finger toward the distant horizon where Carol had just deposited the massive tanker ship. "That tanker ship could have collapsed mid-air and caused immense damage."

Carol regarded her coldly, crossing her arms defiantly beneath her ample chest. "Yeah, but that didn’t happen, did it?" Her voice was blunt, completely unimpressed. "What exactly do you people want?"

Armsmaster stepped forward, clearing his throat sternly. "The local Protectorate isn’t comfortable with unknown corporate superheroes—particularly powerful unknown ones," he emphasized carefully. The other heroes visibly stiffened, their stances growing tenser as they stared at Carol with wary eyes.

Carol snorted audibly, her expression mocking. "You know, if any of you decide to start something, the ocean's right there, and you're going for a swim."

Miss Militia’s eyes flashed in anger, but Armsmaster held up a hand to prevent her from responding. "This isn't a threat," Armsmaster said slowly, clearly uncomfortable with the diplomatic role he'd been forced into. "But there are proper channels. You didn't follow any protocols with the Protectorate."

Carol rolled her eyes, her irritation mounting. "Look, I honestly couldn't care less if you’re uncomfortable or not. Fallcorp followed every law and regulation setting up operations here in Brockton Bay. Our CEO, Layla, is already bringing tens of thousands of jobs to this city. Maybe worry more about your city’s rampant gangs and drug dealers than about a corporation that’s actively helping."

"Bullshit!" Triumph suddenly shouted, stepping forward angrily. "There's no possible way you could’ve gotten everything done that quickly. Not in this city."

Carol smirked, enjoying the look of incredulity on his face. "Believe whatever you like, Triumph, but your mayor wasn't exactly a difficult man to convince. Let's just say he might be shopping around for another yacht soon."

Triumph sputtered, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to respond. Carol suppressed a snort of laughter at his obvious discomfort. Fallcorp had already identified every Protectorate hero’s secret identity. Triumph being the mayor’s son made the irony of their easy bribery all the sweeter.

She locked eyes with each of them, making it clear this conversation was finished. "Now, if you’re all done wasting my time, I have somewhere much more enjoyable to be."

Carol was just about to lift off into the air, her thoughts already drifting to Layla and the enticing plans they had for later, when a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Wait!”

Armsmaster stood firmly, raising a gauntleted hand as if commanding her to stay put.

Carol stopped mid-motion, annoyance flashing brightly across her face. She glared openly at Armsmaster, feeling the irritation rising sharply. She suddenly remembered—she and Layla did actually have another appointment shortly that needed attending first.

But after that… she could feel her heart beat a little quicker at the thought… after that, it would finally be sexy time with Layla. Hours upon hours of uninterrupted, passionate lovemaking. Carol had waited two long, frustrating weeks, and tonight she was definitely putting her foot down.

But first, she needed to find out what the hell Armsmaster wanted now!?

"What now?" Carol snapped impatiently, crossing her toned arms under her breasts as she fixed the armored hero with an icy stare.

Miss Militia stepped forward, her expression stern and disapproving beneath her dark-green bandana. "Just because you're powerful, Captain Marvel, doesn't mean you're above the law. There are still rules and procedures you have to follow like everyone else."

Dauntless chimed in aggressively, "Unless you're actually a villain in disguise!"

Carol scoffed openly, a cold, humorless laugh escaping her lips as she stared him down. "If I was really a villain, you'd already know it. Because I would've done exactly to your precious floating base—the Rig—what I just did to that rusty tanker ship out there."

Her blunt threat was delivered with such calm and certainty that every one of the heroes visibly flinched. Armsmaster shifted uncomfortably, clearly becoming more wary now.

He swallowed audibly but forced himself to speak, raising a hand cautiously. "There's something else," Armsmaster said slowly, clearly growing nervous. A soft hum filled the air as his gauntlet projected a holographic image in front of them.

"This is an official warrant," Armsmaster stated, his voice gaining confidence again as he continued, "signed by a local judge. It authorizes the Protectorate to thoroughly search all of Fallcorp's properties for illegal Tinkertech technology or any other contraband we deem too dangerous for civilian use. Signed by a local judge!” Arsmaster sounded a lot more smug after his explanation.

Carol glared fiercely at Armsmaster, disbelief and annoyance clearly etched across her face. "A warrant? Really?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Her aura briefly flickered around her body, a vibrant swirl of rainbow colors pulsing angrily. The gathered Protectorate heroes visibly stiffened, taking instinctive steps backward as the raw energy radiating from Carol made them uneasy. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure and steady her temper.

"...Oh, is that so?" she said, deliberately mocking, her tone utterly dismissive of their attempt to intimidate her. Calmly, she reached down to her reinforced utility belt and smoothly withdrew her high-tech communicator-phone. Her fingers blurred with superhuman speed as she quickly typed a message to Penemue—the unseen mastermind orchestrating their mission behind the scenes in this world.

The message read simply: "They've got a warrant..."

Carol hit send, confidently watching the device as she waited for the reply. Seconds ticked by, the silence heavy and tense. A short beep announced Penemue's swift response:

"Give me 30 seconds..."

Carol's lips curved into a smug smirk as she slipped her phone back into its secure pouch. Folding her toned arms casually across her ample chest, she stared confidently at the assembled Protectorate capes, clearly not intimidated by them at all.

Miss Militia frowned sharply, taking a step forward and placing her hands firmly on her hips, glaring sternly at Carol from behind her green-patterned bandana. "Are you going to comply peacefully, Captain Marvel, or do we have to arrest you right now for resisting? Perhaps you really are a villain after all."

Carol barely suppressed a laugh, openly rolling her eyes at the gun-toting heroine's stubbornness. This woman was dense as bricks if she thought the Protectorate held any real power here.

A few more uncomfortable seconds passed as the heroes glanced uneasily at each other, clearly sensing something was off. Then, suddenly, Armsmaster's armored gauntlet emitted a sharp, urgent ringing. He flinched slightly beneath his heavy armor before quickly raising his hand to his helmet, answering the call through his built-in communications system.

The heroes watched with growing concern as Armsmaster visibly cringed, their was some unmistakably loud and furious shouting on the other end, even from a few feet away.

Whoever was on the other end was very angry, and Armsmaster's posture grew more defensive with each passing second.

Finally, after a painfully tense silence, Armsmaster slowly lowered his arm, his previous confidence entirely shattered. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and strained. "The judge who issued the warrant has just been disbarred and stripped of all judicial authority. The warrant... it's worthless."

Dauntless' mouth fell open beneath his helmet, eyes wide with shock. Velocity visibly staggered, and Triumph looked around desperately, clearly unable to comprehend how quickly their supposed upper hand had evaporated.

Carol smirked triumphantly, her voice dripping with amused superiority. "Well, looks like that's settled. I'll be taking my leave then," she said, deliberately drawing out each word.

She ignited her aura once more, a powerful and dazzling rainbow halo enveloping her entire body. The stunned heroes could only watch helplessly as Carol effortlessly lifted into the air, rising higher and higher. With one last smug glance downward, she turned sharply and shot off into the sky toward Fallcorp headquarters.

– Layla –

Carol landed gracefully beside me on the roof of our towering Fallcorp building, just minutes after Danny had stepped into the elevator and disappeared. She brushed off her costume, looking mildly irritated yet undeniably gorgeous.

I couldn't help but smirk playfully, arms folded casually beneath my breasts as I raised an eyebrow at her. "What took you so long?" I teased, tilting my head slightly. "Did you get held up by any sea monsters out there?"

Carol scoffed and rolled her eyes dramatically, shaking her head. "If I had, we'd be eating Leviathan sushi right about now," she joked dryly. "No, nothing that exciting. Just got cornered by the local Protectorate trying to pull some legal bullshit on us. Apparently, they found some judge to sign off on a bullshit warrant."

I couldn't hide my amusement, a soft laugh slipping past my lips. "And how did that end?"

Carol's lips curved into a satisfied smirk. "Penemue handled it," she explained, clearly pleased. "Let's just say the judge who signed off on that warrant is now very much unemployed and very unhappy."

I laughed openly this time, shaking my head fondly. My sister was definitely ruthless when it came to handling legal and business affairs. She never let anyone get away with messing with us.

Stepping closer to Carol, I gently cupped her cheek and leaned in, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. I tasted a hint of salt from the ocean air she’d just come from, mixing with her natural sweetness. I pulled back with a smile, "Ready to go?"

She sighed softly, her eyes lingering warmly on mine for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, let’s get this over with."

We were here with a clear purpose—to fix Brockton Bay, and eventually the whole damn world. That meant focusing not just on the adults, but also on the children and teenagers, offering them hope and opportunities they desperately needed. My first major step as Fallcorp’s CEO was a presentation at Winslow High School, and I had convinced Carol to join me as Captain Marvel to make a strong impression.

As I started towards the rooftop edge, Carol groaned dramatically, dragging her feet behind me. "You know, I'm never great with kids," she complained lightly. "They always think I'm too intense."

I glanced back over my shoulder as I chuckled softly. "Oh, I know. But personally, I love your intensity—especially in the bedroom."

Carol’s eyes darkened with desire immediately, and she let out a frustrated little whine, stepping close and slipping her arms around my waist. "Layla, seriously. Stop making me so horny," she murmured into my ear, voice low and seductive. "Or I swear, I'll drag you into the nearest empty room right now and fuck you until neither of us can walk straight."

Heat flushed my cheeks, and I bit my lower lip, my pulse quickening at her explicit promise. "Promises, promises," I whispered back teasingly, forcing myself to remain composed. "But in all seriousness, we really do have to go or we’ll be late."

Carol groaned again but nodded, releasing her grip reluctantly. I sighed, briefly considering simply rewinding time to indulge in her offer. But no, abusing my godlike powers like that would set a bad precedent, even for me.

[You literally already did it before though...]

'Lies and slander!' I thought playfully.

[If you say so, Host...]

With a flick of my wrist, I conjured a swirling purple portal in front of us. Through its shimmering vortex, I could see the slightly rundown exterior of Winslow High. I glanced back at Carol, offering her a reassuring smile. "Come on. Let’s go make an impression."

She rolled her shoulders, putting on her best scripted heroic expression, and stepped through the portal first.

The portal swirled shut behind us, and I allowed myself a small smirk at the stunned expressions on the faces of Principal Blackwell and the teachers waiting outside Winslow High. Carol stood confidently beside me, her superhero suit fitting perfectly to her toned figure, while I was impeccably dressed in a sleek business suit and heels that clicked sharply against the asphalt with every step.

Blackwell stepped forward, eyes wide, visibly swallowing as she extended a trembling hand. "W–welcome to Winslow High, CEO Layla," she stammered, clearly starstruck. "It's an h–honor to have you here. W–we weren't aware that you were a cape, though?" She glanced nervously at the now-empty space where my portal had vanished moments before.

The other teachers eyed me warily, clearly unsure how to respond.

I shook my head gently, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm not a cape. Having powers doesn't automatically mean I run around in costume, fighting crime. Personally, I'm not particularly fond of violence or combat."

[You are so full of shit…]

Carol snorted audibly beside me, struggling to hide her amused smirk as well.

Blackwell, however, seemed to buy it completely, her eyes glowing with admiration. "Exactly! Powers don't define one's career or path. You're such a smart, forward-thinking, and noble woman."

I suppressed another amused smile. The principal was laying it on thick, not only because I was the CEO of Fallcorp—the hottest new company in the city and quickly becoming a global name because of all our ads—but also because rumors pegged me as a billionaire. More importantly, I had promised significant funding to upgrade Winslow High's outdated equipment and run-down facilities. Naturally, she wasn't going to pass up any opportunity to butter me up.

"Exactly," I nodded firmly, maintaining my professional demeanor. "Young people in this city need to understand they have real options beyond joining gangs. That's precisely why I'd like to speak directly to your students today."

"Of course, absolutely!" Blackwell enthused, gripping my hand energetically. She immediately turned to Carol. "Captain Marvel! It's a great honor having you here as well. I just heard what you did for the bay, removing that giant eyesore. The whole city is buzzing!"

Carol chuckled warmly, flashing her winning smile. "It was my pleasure, really."

We exchanged a discreet glance, my fingers lightly brushing against hers as we followed Principal Blackwell and the teachers into the school building.

We were halfway down the bustling hallway, lined with lockers and buzzing students peering curiously at our entourage, when a sharp, gut-wrenching sensation gripped me. I stopped abruptly, my breath catching as a wave of raw emotion crashed through me. Fear, agony, and desperate terror screamed silently from a soul nearby, impossible to ignore.

"Layla?" Carol whispered softly, sensing my tension instantly. "What's wrong?"

"Someone here is suffering," I murmured urgently.

My high heels clacked sharply against the dirty tiled floor as I ran down the school hallway, heading straight toward the locker where a girl’s terrified screams echoed. My heart clenched painfully at the sheer agony and desperation radiating from her soul.

"Help me! Please! Someone let me out!" the muffled cries grew louder as I approached.

Just as I reached for the locker handle, Principal Blackwell hurriedly stepped in front of me, her eyes wide with sudden panic. "Please, CEO Layla, don’t worry yourself about this. That student has a history of dramatic pranks. She probably locked herself inside to get attention. Just ignore her."

My jaw dropped open slightly, disbelief flooding my face. What kind of callous bullshit was that?

The teachers standing nearby quickly echoed her words, nodding vigorously.

"Principal Blackwell is right," one said quickly, avoiding my gaze. "She does this kind of thing all the time."

"Absolutely," another chimed in, looking equally uncomfortable and shifty-eyed.

My eyes narrowed dangerously, my divine senses easily cutting through their lies. I could practically taste their guilt and cowardice. Something was deeply, horribly wrong here.

Captain Marvel stepped forward, clearly sensing my building fury. Without a single word, she grabbed the locker door firmly in her powerful grip. Metal groaned sharply as she effortlessly tore it open, pulling the twisted door clean off its hinges without harming the terrified girl trapped inside.

Even as a supreme goddess who had seen countless horrors across universes, the sight before me nearly made me gag. The young girl inside was covered head-to-toe in filthy, moldy feminine products, rotting garbage, and countless squirming cockroaches crawling over her shaking, panicked body.

She was sobbing uncontrollably, her face twisted in absolute terror and disgust as she clawed desperately at Captain Marvel, who carefully lifted her from the vile locker and cradled her protectively.

"Shhh," Carol soothed gently, holding her securely. "You're safe now. I've got you."

My hands were shaking in anger as I raised one arm and swept it gently over the trembling girl. Warm golden energy cascaded from my fingertips, instantly washing away the filth and healing every injury and infection on her abused body. Her panicked sobbing eased slightly, though she clung desperately to Carol, clearly traumatized by the ordeal.

Slowly, deliberately, I turned my furious gaze toward Principal Blackwell, who now looked pale and terrified, clearly sensing just how badly she had fucked up.

"What the fuck is going on in this school?" I demanded coldly, my voice echoing harshly through the hallway. "How the hell did this happen?"

I—It’s um—Well the thing is… shit…” the principal finally said. Obviously not having an excuse. “I don’t suppose either of you still want to give your presentation to the rest of the students?”

The glares Captain Marvel and I both gave her were our answer. Besides, I had something else more important to focus on. Something—one of the entities that was targeting these Earths had just reached out to the girl sobbing in Captain Marvel’s arms.

And it had given her power of some kind. I had sensed the moment it happened.

– Lung –

Lung paced furiously back and forth in the dimly lit warehouse that served as one of the ABB's hideouts. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails bit deeply into his palms, small trails of blood trickling down his knuckles. A deep growl resonated in his chest as his fiery rage boiled just beneath his skin, the temperature around him increasing notably.

He was the uncontested force of Brockton Bay!

The unstoppable dragon feared by heroes and villains alike. But now, whispers slithered through the ranks of his own gang, eroding the respect and fear he'd meticulously cultivated.

"Captain Marvel," Lung spat the name with bitter contempt.

The arrogant gaijin had humiliated him by casually lifting that massive tanker ship right out of the bay. Lung knew, deep down, that given enough time and rage, he could have replicated the feat. But she had done it effortlessly, without breaking a sweat, mocking him silently with her display of raw, overwhelming power.

The whispers from his own subordinates gnawed at him.

"He's not untouchable anymore."

"Fallcorp is the top dog now."

"Captain Marvel showed everyone who the real dragon is."

Each whisper felt like acid poured directly onto his pride.

Earlier that day, he'd overheard a particularly bold subordinate sneering openly, "Forget the PRT—Fallcorp runs this city now. Lung's reign is finished."

Lung's response had been swift and merciless. He recalled the traitor's screams vividly as he'd torn off the man's limbs with his bare hands. The traitor's pleas had ended only when Lung burned him alive, leaving nothing but charred flesh and a stark message to any others harboring similar treacherous thoughts.

Yet the act had done little to soothe Lung's wounded pride. If anything, it had fueled his fury further.

"This cannot stand!" Lung roared, his voice echoing ominously through the warehouse, making his underlings flinch and cower in fear. He turned sharply, his dark eyes burning with renewed determination and rage, and locked his gaze onto Oni Lee, who stood silently nearby, ever watchful and loyal.

"Oni Lee," Lung growled, the words dripping with menace and authority. "Arm up. We're going to show everyone in Brockton Bay who truly holds the power. Fallcorp thinks they're untouchable? We'll raze their precious building to the ground, crush their arrogant CEO, and rip apart Captain Marvel when she dares intervene! She'll be nothing more than my bed slave before the day is out!"

Oni Lee nodded silently. He turned and began issuing orders to the other gang members in the room, distributing weapons and explosives among their most trusted soldiers.

– Armsmaster –

Armsmaster stood rigidly at attention in Director Piggot’s stark office. Beneath his visor, his jaw was clenched tightly, bracing himself for the verbal lashing he anticipated.

He mentally berated himself. The warrant had been his idea, after all. The judge he approached had been an old college friend—well, former friend now, considering Armsmaster’s actions had directly led to the man losing his career.

More humiliatingly, he'd rounded up several Protectorate heroes—Dauntless, Velocity, Miss Militia, and Triumph to confront Captain Marvel, all without consulting Director Piggot first. He'd been arrogant, believing a legitimate warrant was enough to cover his actions, but he hadn’t counted on Fallcorp’s ruthless efficiency in shutting down a judge.

More than anything, he desperately wanted to understand the capsule technology that Fallcorp openly displayed. The thought of effortlessly storing entire buildings or vehicles was mind-boggling. His own highly specialized Tinker tech, no matter how advanced, suddenly seemed trivial by comparison!

To Armsmaster's surprise, Director Piggot didn't look angry. In fact, her typically stern face was relaxed. She leaned back in her chair. “Relax, Armsmaster. I’m not about to chew you out,” she finally said, a faint smirk appearing on her face.

“Director?” Armsmaster questioned cautiously, feeling slightly thrown off-balance by her reaction.

“Director Costa-Brown herself just gave me a call. She thinks it was a good effort,” Piggot stated calmly, her smirk widening slightly. “We both agree. We don't trust this new CEO Layla or her superhero lapdog, Captain Marvel. They’re hiding something. Fallcorp’s sudden emergence and unexplained technology are red flags we cannot ignore.”

Armsmaster straightened slightly, his grip tightening around the shaft of his halberd. “What are you suggesting, Director?”

“Oh, we’re not declaring open hostility—yet,” Piggot clarified, eyes narrowing slightly. “But that doesn’t mean we can't make things difficult for them. There are plenty of ways to apply pressure without breaking the rules outright.”

A sudden pang of unease twisted in Armsmaster’s gut. He wasn't entirely comfortable with Piggot’s implication. Sabotage and harassment weren't exactly aligned with his personal principles. All he really wanted was a chance to see that incredible capsule technology up close, to learn and adapt it, not to ruin innocent lives or spark unnecessary conflict.

Still, he bit his tongue and nodded, outwardly agreeing with her. He wasn't about to challenge his superior openly.

Before he could voice any further thoughts, an urgent notification flashed across his visor. Armsmaster’s eyes widened beneath the reflective screen as he quickly absorbed the information. “Director Piggot,” he announced urgently. “The ABB is launching a full assault on Fallcorp’s headquarters downtown! Both Lung and Oni Lee have been sighted leading the attack.”

He was ready to mobilize!

Yet before he could take a step, Piggot’s voice cut sharply through his urgency. “Not so fast, Armsmaster,” she cut him off. “...I think we’ll sit this one out. Fallcorp prides itself on having their own private hero. Let Captain Marvel handle it herself.” The implication was clear, underscored by a small, satisfied smirk tugging at the corners of Piggot’s lips.

Armsmaster hesitated. Had his earlier zeal pushed things too far? His mind churned uneasily at the thought of innocent bystanders or even regular Fallcorp employees getting caught in the violence that was about to occur.

“Director,” he started carefully, choosing his words with great caution, “perhaps we should at least monitor the situation closely. If civilians—”

Piggot sharply raised her hand, cutting him off again. “I appreciate your concern, Armsmaster. But Fallcorp claims they’re here to help Brockton Bay, don’t they? Let them prove it. They should be able to handle a single gang if they claim to be able to take down endbringers!” she scoffed at those last words.

Swallowing his discomfort, Armsmaster slowly nodded again, though his stomach churned with doubt. Had he gone too far and started something he didn't want to finish?

He'd have to speak with the other protectorate capes later. Despite what happened on the beach earlier, he was secretly rooting for Captain Marvel and Fallcorp. The ABB had been a scourge on the city for too long after all...

XXX

Thanks for reading!!! You can check out more of my stories on my profile.

Wanna read more of my stuff ahead of regular release?  You can Support me on Pat-reon.-com / Starwaves

Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters on there:

The Fallen Gamer ch 342-346

Thunder and Black Wings 37

Thunder and Black Wings 36

The Fox Hole 107

Thunder and Black Wings 35

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 29

The Blood Queen 59

The Fox Hole 106

Thunder and Black Wings 34

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 28

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 27

The Fox Hole 105

The Blood Queen 58

Thunder and black wings 33

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 26

The Fox Hole 104

Thunder and Black Wings 32

The Blood Queen 57