Miss America

Kyo Kusanagi took the first step, launching the Nijinagi throw. He rapidly closed in on Goenitz, trying to seize him and slam him to the ground. But Goenitz was no ordinary opponent. With a flash of movement, he evaded Kyo Kusanagi's attack.

At the same time, Iori Yagami unleashed the deadly Hyakushiki: Oni Yaki. His footsteps moved like a ghost's as he followed with a whipping kick at Goenitz, but Goenitz deftly leaped backward, avoiding the fatal blow.

Kagura Chizuru used her agility to display the consecutive attacks of Hyakujunishishiki: Aoi Hana. She swiftly approached Goenitz and struck three times in succession, unleashing a relentless barrage like torrential rain. Goenitz struggled to evade, but one of the attacks still hit him, making his body falter slightly.

"Oh?" Goenitz looked intrigued.

Goenitz no longer underestimated the three of them. Wariness rose within him, and he decided to launch his own attack. He used Kuzukaze to close in on Kyo Kusanagi and attack at point-blank range. Kyo Kusanagi barely held him off, but was still forced back.

"Hmph, don't get in the way." Iori Yagami adopted a calmer strategy, grabbing the retreating Kyo Kusanagi by the collar and flinging him aside.

"Iori, you—!" Kyo Kusanagi was furious.

Ignoring him, Iori Yagami used his footwork to rapidly close in on Goenitz. He unleashed deadly techniques such as Hyakushiki: Oni Yaki and Nihyakujunishishiki: Kotsuzuki In, targeting Goenitz's weak points, while using Kuzukaze and Hyakuhachishiki: An'erai to maintain control of the battle.

Kagura Chizuru employed her unique techniques, nimbly circling past Goenitz's defenses. She used combo attacks such as Hyakujunishishiki: Aoi Hana to continuously strike her opponent, leaving him unable to counterattack. At the same time, she fully utilized techniques such as Hyakukatsu: Tenshin no Ri and Ri'nimen Ichi Katsu: Sanraku no Fujin to enhance her offensive and defensive capabilities.

"Interesting, interesting. Is this the strength of the Three Sacred Treasures fighting together?"

Not to be outdone, Goenitz used the power of the Orochi bloodline within him to counterattack.

"Hurricane."

"Glacier."

He displayed overwhelming power, using techniques such as Hurricane and Glacier to place immense pressure on Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Kagura Chizuru. However, the three warriors of the sacred artifact clans relied on their superb skills and seamless coordination to maintain an unyielding defense and flexible offense.

Meanwhile, Nathan Hawke and the others watched from afar.

"Let's go. Goenitz can't win." After speaking, Nathan Hawke turned and left, and the others followed.

The sky remained as gloomy as ever, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling, but all of it...

The destined scene of the Three Sacred Treasures' fate.

Nathan Hawke no longer paid attention.

A six-pointed star flashed.

The dazzling radiance faded.

The four who had left became five upon their return.

"Th-this... is this real?" Dr. Keitz immediately shouted.

"Ryoma Sengoku, show Dr. Keitz around." Nathan Hawke then looked at Dr. Keitz and said, "Get familiar with this world."

"Yes, Boss." Ryoma Sengoku smiled faintly.

After that, everyone went their separate ways.

Nathan Hawke frowned. It seemed he could still perform another summon, but after taking a deep breath, he decided not to rush it. He should go back and get some proper rest first.

Time passed just like that.

Nathan Hawke finally figured out the upgraded version of his Golden Finger.

One of its original abilities was: Summoning.

The other was: Traversal.

However, this traversal ability was more accurately said to exist in service of summoning.

Nathan Hawke had also figured out how to use it.

The days that followed were a rare stretch of leisure. Some of the summoned villains acted in films, fulfilling the essence of being superheroes. Some conducted research and development at Umbrella Corporation. Others oversaw Umbrella Corporation's European branch. Everything was in perfect order.

Then, one day.

Nathan Hawke was looking at Justin Hammer, who still lay in a vegetative state inside a nutrient tank, when a brilliant blue Space Wormhole suddenly opened. A girl with wavy hair, wearing a leather jacket, denim shorts, and cowboy boots flew out of it.

Bang!

"Oww, that hurt." The girl clutched her head and got to her feet, squinting. Then she saw the unconscious Justin Hammer.

"Justin Hammer?" She then looked at Nathan Hawke. "You... I remember you. You seem to be the chairman of some corporation." The girl frowned as she thought.

The girl pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "I need to find some superheroes who can help me. I wonder if this world has the Avengers."

Nathan Hawke silently mocked her. The Avengers? They hadn't even gotten off the ground yet.

Nathan Hawke glanced toward a nearby surveillance camera, signaling that there was no need for the security department to intervene.

"Miss America, may I ask what brings you to our world?"

"Ah! You know me? The you from this world knows me!" Miss America pointed at herself in surprise.

When Miss America saw Nathan Hawke remain silent, she assumed her loud reaction had displeased him. So she introduced herself. "Hello, I'm America Chavez. You can call me Chavez."

Nathan Hawke nodded and introduced himself. "Nathan Hawke. Chairman of Hawke Group, and also chairman of Superhero Company."

"Huh? Chairman of a Superhero Company?" America Chavez could not help recalling that Hawke Group was supposedly a company that produced everyday goods. Since when had it become associated with "superheroes"?

What about the Avengers?

"Is that so?" Miss America, though she did not quite understand, only felt that Nathan Hawke seemed incredibly impressive. She soon recovered and asked, "Can I see the current date?"

"This isn't the place to talk." Nathan Hawke turned around, then looked back at her. "If you're interested, you can take a look around my company."

"Oh. Okay." Miss America nodded obediently like a little chick and followed Nathan Hawke's words.

Nathan Hawke merely glanced at the monitor again.

"Wow. Electro, Translucent, Super V. Are these Hawke Group's superheroes?" Miss America toured Hawke Group's superhero merchandise and documentaries recording the superheroes' fight against crime.

The secretary assigned to introduce things to Miss America said, "That's right. These are Hawke Group's superheroes. But very soon, another superhero will be born within the group—or rather, has already been born."

Miss America immediately pretended to be interested and asked curiously, "Tell me, tell me."

"Kamen Rider Duke."

"Duke?"

The secretary led Miss America into another room that had not been made public. Miss America looked at the armor inside, which held a bow-shaped weapon.

The secretary said, "This is a one-to-one scale model of Kamen Rider Duke."

"So cool." Miss America blinked, but inwardly she was thinking.

Nathan Hawke seemed to be trying to show off his capabilities in front of her. But Miss America had absolutely no information on Nathan Hawke. She had no idea whether Nathan Hawke himself—or Hawke Group, wrapped in the packaging of "superheroes"—was truly made up of superheroes on the inside.

Maybe I should look for the Avengers, but in this timeline, perhaps it would be better to find Tony Stark? Miss America grew conflicted, and then another thought surfaced.

Or should I seek help from the Sanctum? The moment that thought arose, Miss America quickly shook her head and rejected it.

Miss America lost all interest in touring the place and began eating at Hawke Group's self-service dining area.

Or maybe I should travel again and find a universe in the multiverse that can help me?

But my ability... Miss America immediately began to worry about her unreliable powers.

"Alert, alert, alert..." Flashing red lights came on. A sudden sense of foreboding welled up in Miss America's heart.

"Oh no, they're here."

A Space Wormhole opened in the dining area, and a swarm of dark octopus-like creatures suddenly lunged at Miss America.

Hawke Group's security department responded swiftly, immediately bringing out riot-control weapons and firing in unison.

"Miss, this way!" the security chief roared.

Miss America kicked one octopus-like creature away and quickly ran toward the security team.

Bullets struck the octopus-like creatures, bursting Blood Mist from their bodies.

"Keep going."

"Fire."

The octopus-like creatures wildly lunged toward Miss America, baring their claws and fangs.

Then they froze in midair.

"Looks like I wasn't too late." Andrew appeared in everyone's sight, wearing an earpiece and chewing bubble gum.

A series of electrical beams swiftly pierced through the octopus-like creatures' bodies, turning them directly into black mist that dissipated into the air.

Miss America hurriedly looked toward the direction the beams had come from. A man wearing a superhero costume, with a lightning bolt embroidered on his right arm, walked forward.

"Chief, I'll leave the cleanup to you," Electro said.

"Leave it to us," the security chief replied.

The two superheroes escorted Miss America to Nathan Hawke's office.

Nathan Hawke gestured for Miss America to sit down and got straight to the point. "Do you need our help? Or you could seek out someone else. For example, Tony Stark. S.H.I.E.L.D."

"No, no, no." Miss America hurriedly waved her hands to say that there was no need. Then she asked embarrassedly, "Could I perhaps stay here with you for a few days?"

"Sure." After Nathan Hawke spoke, he asked, "Then what about those monsters that followed you here?"

Miss America began recounting the crisis she had encountered.

An evil mage who worshipped Dormammu of the Dark Dimension had discovered her ability to travel across the multiverse during another encounter with her, and then began plotting to seize Miss America's power.

"Those octopus-like creatures are monsters he summoned with a spell called Black Magic," Miss America said.

"Has he locked onto your location?" Nathan Hawke asked.

Miss America hesitated. "More or less."

Nathan Hawke sensed that she was still hiding something and asked probing questions. "Do you know Stephen Strange?"

Miss America's eyes widened, but her lips remained tightly sealed.

Nathan Hawke shook his head slightly. He instantly guessed that the person coveting Miss America's power might be one of the mages from the Sanctum.