Chapter 47: The Banquet

Noah sat at his desk, absentmindedly pushing the half-cup of cold coffee to the edge. He had lost interest in it. Instead, he gently placed a briefcase on the desk.

The desk, already small, was now almost entirely occupied by the case. Its surface was covered in black leather, exuding a sense of understated sophistication. At the center of the case was a shiny metal emblem that unmistakably identified it as belonging to S.H.I.E.L.D.

This was the gift Nick Fury had promised him earlier.

Noah pressed the handle of the briefcase lightly, causing its front panel to rise, revealing a small screen.

The screen displayed a password input interface. Unfazed, Noah quickly keyed in a long string of numbers. With a click, the mechanical locks inside began to operate, and the lid opened automatically.

The interior was lined with black, shock-absorbent foam, soft yet firm, ensuring the safety of its contents.

Nestled within the foam was a small vial containing a pale blue liquid.

The liquid had a texture like glass but flowed like water. As it shifted inside the container, it formed elegant ripples and curves. Every drop seemed impossibly pure, radiating an aura of boundless energy.

Indeed, it had much to do with infinity.

This vial contained the perfected super-soldier serum—a rare hybrid formula. It had been distilled 27 years ago but was subsequently lost following the mysterious death of the scientist responsible for its creation. Fury had kept it hidden ever since, intending to preserve it until science had advanced enough for replication.

That day had never come.

Now, Fury had gifted the serum to Noah as a token of gratitude for his help. According to Fury, it was insufficient to repay his debt of gratitude, but it was the least he could offer.

"Regardless, I should thank you. This is an invaluable treasure," Noah murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He carefully picked up the vial, examining its mechanism. At the top was a small button, evidently designed for air injection.

Positioning the nozzle against his neck, he pressed the button. The serum began to flow slowly into his veins, accompanied by a faint hissing sound. He could feel the liquid entering his bloodstream, a slight warmth spreading through him.

But the warmth quickly turned into searing heat, as though a fire had ignited within his veins. This blazing energy surged along his circulatory system, rushing towards his heart.

"Hiss—"

Noah shot to his feet like a bolt of lightning. His mind suddenly brimmed with clarity as countless memories resurfaced, like beams of light illuminating the past.

From mundane moments like the breakfast he ate four weeks ago, to the cigarette brand his driving instructor pulled out years ago, every detail flooded back to him. Beyond the trivial, fragments of comics he had once read now burst forth vividly.

However, this torrent of memories came with a sharp, stabbing headache, as if a blade was slicing through his skull.

Gripping the edge of the desk for support, Noah tried to steady himself. But with his newfound strength, he inadvertently crushed the wooden edge into splinters that scattered across the floor.

Gradually, the pain began to subside. It seemed the influx of memories and energy had reached equilibrium. Opening his eyes slowly, Noah felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Thank goodness," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "At least I didn't end up like Ultimate Universe Reed Richards. If I had, I'd need a custom helmet just to leave the house."

In the Ultimate Universe, Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, was a peculiar figure in both appearance and demeanor. After being abandoned in a dimension due to minor disagreements with his teammates, Reed not only survived but thrived. He spent a millennium playing god in a self-made "Dome" experiment, becoming the smartest person alive at the cost of his humanity.

This newfound intelligence came with an unexpected price—his brain physically grew larger, causing his head to grotesquely bulge outward. Bald and alien-like, Reed became a freakish figure.

Shaking off the thought, Noah dressed in the tailored suit left by Doom's attendants in the wardrobe and stepped out.

The Doom Fortress was bustling with life. The hall and dining areas were packed with survivors of the helicarrier, their faces lit with a joy that only comes after escaping death.

Black-clad attendants weaved through the crowd, serving guests with platters of food and drinks. Despite the overwhelming number of guests, the servants, trained to perfection in Latveria, remained composed and graceful.

Noah's eyes scanned the room, landing on familiar faces: Maria Hill, Phil Coulson, Tony Stark, and Pietro Maximoff among them.

Tony, still clad in his red-and-gold armor with the helmet off, spotted Noah and immediately lit up. Holding a glass of champagne, he exchanged a few words with a passing server, grabbed another glass, and made his way over.

"Hey, Noah! You made it to the party!" Tony exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

"A party?" Noah raised an eyebrow, accepting the champagne.

"Yeah! Doom said something poetic about welcoming friends from afar and decided to throw this little soiree for us."

Tony's face lit up mischievously. "Oh, I've got an idea."

Before Noah could react, Tony slung an arm around his shoulder. The thrusters on his boots flared to life, lifting them both into the air amidst gasps from the crowd.

Everyone watched with puzzled expressions as Tony activated his suit's loudspeaker.

"Friends, may I have your attention?" Tony's voice boomed through the hall, silencing the chatter.

"I want to introduce you all to our savior, Noah White! A man with the power to see the future—a true prophet! It was his foresight that saved us from becoming zombie chow and gave us a chance at survival!"

For a moment, the hall was silent. Then, in unison, the crowd raised their glasses, their voices echoing in a resounding cheer.

"To Noah! To the future!"

The cheers rolled like thunder through the Doom Fortress, accompanied by the clinking of glasses.

As the two descended, Noah looked around at the sea of grateful faces and smiled. Lifting his glass, he downed the champagne in one go, savoring the moment.