"Master, you have returned!"
"Welcome back, my Lord!"
As Roland Phils appeared, the ship girls immediately dropped to their knees, their faces lit with joy.
"Stand up. Are things on Earth settled?" Phils asked calmly.
"Master, thanks to your divine power, the mortal realm is peaceful. The battles caused no harm, and the people are grateful to you!" Effie, the head maid, answered excitedly.
"Good. If there is nothing more, come with me." Phils lifted his hand, space shifted, and in the blink of an eye, everyone was transported into the manor.
Star-Lord and his crew were stunned, their shock beyond words.
Inside, Phils seated himself on a grand throne. The ship girls quickly gathered around him, serving him with care.
"Show respect to our Lord. Kneel!" Bismarck said coldly, her eyes sharp on Carol and the others.
Star-Lord's group immediately knelt. Even Carol lowered herself on one knee, her expression filled with reverence.
The divine presence of the ship girls had already been overwhelming. Now, standing before the Lord of Life, she felt as powerless as an ant before a mountain. Against the others she might have stood her ground, but against him? Her instincts told her the truth. She would be utterly crushed.
This man was the strongest being she had ever seen, stronger even than the planet-devouring entity. She realized her choice to come to Earth had not been wrong. Perhaps, this god truly could save her world.
"Carol Danvers, hero of the cosmos. Your name carries far." Phils' gaze fell on her, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Lord of Life, you honor me. We have never met, yet you already know me. But I am no hero. I only follow my heart and do what I must." Carol answered humbly.
Phils' smile widened. "To follow one's heart. Well said. I like that."
Carol was startled, flattered. She had not expected such a powerful god to be so approachable.
But Phils' next words made her heart race. "Your purpose in coming here, I already know. I can help you."
With the power of the mind, no one could hide thoughts from him. Carol was no exception. In truth, even at her strongest, she was only at the Heavenly Father's level, nothing more than a match for Bismarck or Akagi. In Phils' eyes, she was not much.
"You will truly help me?" Carol's eyes shone with excitement.
"I will, but there is a condition. Nothing comes free. If you wish to save that planet, you must pay a price." Phils' voice was steady, yet it struck heavily in her heart.
"What is the price?" she asked.
"Your faith and loyalty, and that of your world," Phils replied.
Carol's eyes widened. But before she could answer, he continued.
"You wish to wield my power to save your people, then you represent me. Becoming my follower is not too much to ask. And if I save your world, is it unreasonable for them to see me as their god?"
Carol lowered her head, silent for a moment, then nodded. "You are right. I accept. I will be your follower and pledge myself to you."
Had anyone else demanded this of her, she would have refused without hesitation. She was Captain Marvel, a symbol of pride and freedom. She bowed to no one. But Phils was no ordinary being. He was a true god, a god of life itself. Her pride meant little compared to the lives of billions.
"Good." Phils nodded, satisfied.
Carol hesitated, then spoke again. "But I cannot control their faith. Belief is free. I cannot force them."
Her honesty made Phils smile. This woman was genuine, unafraid to speak truth. Taking her under his wing was indeed the right decision.
"I know," Phils said gently. "I never expected you to force them. When the planet is saved, spread the teachings of the Life God Church there. Cast my light upon that world. Whether they believe or not, that is their choice, not yours."
Carol bowed her head. "I understand. I will not fail you."
"Good. I will send Bismarck and Akagi with you. With their power, your world will be safe."
"Thank you, my Lord!" Carol's voice trembled with gratitude.
Phils nodded, then his figure faded and vanished.
Not long after, a female guard entered. "Lady Effie, Nick Fury requests an audience."
"Again?" Effie frowned.
Carol smiled faintly. "He must be here for me. We have not met in years."
"You know him?" Effie asked curiously.
"Yes. Decades ago, when he had just begun his career. From what you say, he seems to have accomplished something."
"More or less. He became the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and formed a team called the Avengers. Ambitious, but troublesome." Effie shrugged.
"Since you are old friends, you should handle him. None of us care for him, and our Lord even less so." With that, Effie vanished. The others followed, returning to the divine realm.
Earth was only a place for them to relax. Their true home was now the God Domain.
Carol sighed as she looked around the empty room. "So, because I joined them, they just left me the mess? These people are really something."
The guard turned to her. "Lady Carol, should I let Nick Fury in?"
Carol hesitated, then smirked. "No. Tell him to leave. Our Lord does not like him. Say he should reflect, and I will find him later."
"…Very well." The guard nodded and went out.
Outside, Nick Fury, Coulson, and Hill were waiting.
"Sir, do you think he'll let us in this time?" Coulson asked, amused.
"Things have changed. Phils and I have no quarrel now. I only want to see Carol," Fury replied awkwardly.
"I doubt it. That man is not easy to deal with," Coulson said with a grin.
"Shut your mouth, or I'll—" Fury began, but stopped as the manor doors opened. The guard stepped out.
"Miss Sophia, what did your master say?" Fury asked hopefully.
"Lord Phils is not here. I met Lady Effie. She left things to Lady Carol."
"Carol? She serves the Lord of Life?" Fury's eyes widened.
"Yes. She is now one of his trusted generals, and speaks with his authority," Sophia said firmly.
Fury's heart leapt with joy. His old ally now stood by the side of a god. That connection could be invaluable.
But then, Sophia's next words nearly made him faint.
"Lady Carol said… leave. Now."
Fury's face froze.
Coulson and Hill turned away, struggling to hold back laughter.
"You must be mistaken. Carol would never say that!" Fury said quickly, embarrassment burning his face.
Sophia's gaze sharpened. Power surged from her, pressing down on him like a storm. "Are you questioning me?"
Fury paled. "No, no. Of course not."
"Then hear my words. Carol said you offended our Lord, and this is your punishment. She will come to you when she chooses. Until then… go." Sophia spat the word coldly, then shut the gate in his face.
Fury stood there, stunned.
Coulson finally burst out laughing, and Fury's irritation exploded. He kicked him to the ground. "Happy now? Let's go."
With no choice, Fury left, fuming. On this planet, the Roland family was the only force that could dismiss him so utterly.
"Cheer up, sir," Hill said with a smirk. "At least your friend is in good hands."
"Good hands? She told me to leave," Fury muttered, his face dark.
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