141
Chapter 141: The Declined Captain Marvel
As Thanos departed, Odin turned to the assembled group, his gaze settling on Wanda and Carol with a meaningful nod of satisfaction.
Wanda's cheeks flushed bright red, while Carol's face was marked by a look of exasperation. "What's with that look?" she muttered, frustrated.
Ignoring their reactions, Odin addressed Thor, "Thor, I am very disappointed with your performance. You…"
"Alright, Thanos is gone. Stop pretending," Thor interjected.
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
"Crack—"
As Wanda and Carol were left stunned, a bolt of lightning struck Odin from the sky.
"Why do you always have to show up like this?" Loki, whose body was scorched and hair standing on end, complained with a glum expression.
Wanda and Carol: "!!!"
Thor: "If it really is Father, why did it take so long? You should have intervened sooner! Did Father let Thanos go on purpose back then?"
Loki looked defeated.
"Also, an old villain like Thanos must have seen through it too."
"Then why…"
"Because he was reluctant to fight for a prolonged period. He wasn't sure of his victory and needed to maintain his authority with his subordinates. Black Dwarf's death and Supergiant's defeat would affect his morale significantly. Not all his subordinates are loyal to him."
Carol understood. "So, if you bow to Odin, it'll be easier for those people to accept the situation."
"Yes, Loki was putting on a show, and so was Thanos."
Back in Asgard, Wanda went to rest, leaving Thor and Carol to catch up.
Thor suddenly asked, "It can't possibly take this long to find a home for the Skrulls, right?"
It had been nearly twenty years since Captain Marvel left Earth. After such a long time, was there really no habitable planet?
Carol shook her head. "It's not that simple. Most habitable planets in the universe already have civilizations. I brought the Skrulls to find a home, not to invade others. In the end, we found a planet with harsher conditions and modified it."
Thor was still puzzled. Transforming a planet's environment was difficult for Earth's technology, but the Skrulls possessed some of the most advanced technology in the universe. Shouldn't it have been quicker?
"Actually, a few years ago, it was already possible to settle there. The reason I didn't return was that I discovered something more significant. There are many planets with civilizations that lack protection from powerful beings."
"So, you're the cosmic policeman now. Impressive. But why do I hear that your skills have declined? Shouldn't maintaining peace be a daily task?"
Thor voiced his concerns.
"Ah…" Carol looked a bit embarrassed. "Most of the enemies encountered on those less advanced planets are not very strong. Not even Thanos or his subordinates. Most of them can't withstand a single blow from me…"
Thor nodded in understanding.
Despite the many supervillains encountered on Earth and in Asgard—such as Thanos and Dormammu—the universe wasn't as full of formidable foes as one might think. Troubled planets like Earth and Asgard were exceptions.
A mediocre fighter like Peter Quill, equipped with high-tech weapons, could navigate the galaxy with ease. Similarly, someone like Drax could dominate in the so-called prison of the Nova Corps that held "the most dangerous prisoners."
In fact, most enemies across the universe were at most as powerful as Iron Overlord. Against someone with Carol's strength, they would collapse with a single punch.
Initially, Carol had taken Thor's advice lightly, thinking that fighting lesser enemies would still help her improve, given her responsibility over several galaxies. But she soon found that her own strength had diminished over time, despite her efforts.
This was akin to a national Go champion playing with amateurs all the time; eventually, even their own skills would suffer.
Thor's rapid improvement was largely due to the formidable enemies he faced, like Cursed Warrior, Hela, and Thanos. He had encountered and battled with some of the most dangerous beings across the universe during his time on Sakaar.
…So.