Malekith died without ceremony.
No grand speech. No final stand.
Just a single crushing blow that turned the would-be conqueror of the universe into nothing more than a forgotten smear on the battlefield.
His ambitions ended not with a bang—but with a careless swing.
"Hey—what the hell? You just stole my kill!"
One of the surviving competitors snapped, glaring at the man responsible. "At least flip a coin or something!"
He sounded genuinely annoyed.
Then again, the stakes had already shifted.
With survival secured, the extra reward barely mattered. It meant more resources, more privileges—but not another life. For people who had already been standing at death's door, that difference didn't carry the same weight.
The one who had taken the kill didn't respond.
Mahivacha simply looked back at them, silent and unmoved.
The others clicked their tongues and let it go.
There was nothing left to fight over.
Now, they just had to wait.
A minute later, space warped.
Invisible forces pulled at them, lifting them out of the battlefield. The world twisted—and then snapped back into place.
They found themselves standing inside a grand hall.
Ahead of them sat several of the most powerful figures on Earth.
Wilson Fisk. Tony Stark. Rodriguez.
The shift in atmosphere was immediate.
The five men who had just torn through a battlefield without hesitation suddenly straightened, expressions tightening. The aggression vanished.
Then, as if rehearsed, they dropped to their knees.
"Greetings, Presidents," they said in unison, heads lowered.
Fisk smiled faintly.
"Quick learners."
"We owe everything to you," one of them said quickly. "Without you, we wouldn't have a second chance."
"We've changed," another added. "We won't make the same mistakes again."
The contrast was almost surreal.
Moments ago, they had been predators.
Now, they looked like obedient recruits.
Watching the live broadcast, people around the world didn't quite know how to feel about it.
"You've proven yourselves," Fisk said, voice calm and measured. "Out of all the competitors, you came out on top. That earns you a place in the Global Defense Force."
The words hit like a shockwave.
The five men froze.
The Global Defense Force…?
That wasn't just a promotion.
It was elevation.
A position above regional authority. Direct command under the highest leadership. Power, status, and protection—all rolled into one.
"Thank you, Mr. President!" they said immediately.
Rodriguez cut in, tone sharp. "You should be thanking Noah Vale. He's the one who gave you this opportunity."
They corrected themselves instantly.
"Yes—of course. Thank you, Noah Vale!"
Tony Stark said nothing.
He watched quietly, already considering what came next. Recruitment wasn't automatic—not to him. Backgrounds, crimes, risk factors… those still mattered.
He would make the final call.
"Next," Fisk continued, "we proceed with the award ceremony. The champion of the superhuman division will receive their medal…"
He paused slightly.
"…personally."
Silence.
Then—
"By Noah Vale."
For a split second, the room stopped breathing.
The five men snapped their heads up, eyes wide.
He's coming here?
The reaction was immediate—and explosive.
Online, the mood flipped instantly. What had been admiration turned into raw envy.
If jealousy had weight, it would've crushed them on the spot.
The five winners trembled, barely able to stay still.
Joining the Global Defense Force was already beyond anything they could have imagined.
But this?
Meeting Noah Vale in person?
That crossed into something unreal.
"You'll need to wait," Fisk said after checking a message. "He's… occupied."
Rodriguez added dryly, "Unlike you, he has an entire world to manage."
"We understand," Mahivacha said immediately, bowing his head. "Someone like him must be dealing with matters far beyond us. The chance to meet him at all is already more than we deserve."
Fisk nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Then stand. You'll remain restrained until he arrives."
Guards stepped forward, locking restraints onto the five men. None of them resisted.
They waited.
An hour later—
The doors opened.
Noah Vale walked in.
His presence filled the room effortlessly, drawing every eye toward him. The five men dropped to their knees again without hesitation, excitement practically radiating off them.
He glanced at the restraints.
"What's with the cuffs?" he asked. "Not like they'd stop anyone here anyway."
With a casual motion, he snapped them apart.
The metal might as well have been paper.
The five men stared at him, stunned.
He didn't have to do that…
Something about the gesture stuck with them.
It felt… human.
"Medals?" Noah said, holding out a hand.
A tray was brought forward immediately.
Six gold medals gleamed under the lights.
He picked one up and placed it around the neck of the first winner.
Then the second.
The third.
One by one, he handed them out.
When he reached Mahivacha, he paused briefly.
Another medal already hung around his neck.
Noah added a second.
"You did well," he said, giving his shoulder a light pat. "Taking down their leader earns you that. Keep it up."
Mahivacha straightened instinctively. "Yes, sir."
He hesitated.
Then pushed forward.
"I have one request… if that's alright."
Several guards shot him sharp looks.
Don't push your luck.
Noah waved it off. "As long as it's reasonable."
Mahivacha swallowed, then spoke quickly.
"You're my role model. I was hoping… maybe… you could sign something?"
Noah blinked once.
Then nodded.
"Sure. Where?"
Mahivacha turned around immediately.
"My back works."
His heart was racing so fast it felt like his ability had kicked in again.