Richard recognized the creature immediately.
Pedoleon.
A liquid-based Space Beast.
It was the very first Space Beast defeated by Ultraman Nexus, one of the weaker specimens in that series.
Even so, “weak” was an incredibly relative term.
Pedoleon preyed on humans, fed on petroleum products, and could convert fuel stored inside its body into devastating streams of fire.
It favored ambushing prey with its whip-like tendrils before swallowing victims whole.
Which raised a much more important question.
Why is there a Space Beast in the Marvel Universe?
His mind immediately jumped to the worst possibility.
If Space Beasts existed here…
Then did that also mean the force behind them existed?
The thought lingered in the back of his mind.
He had no proof.
But it was impossible to ignore.
The Quinjet continued its assault.
The heavy rotary cannon hammered Pedoleon without pause while flames engulfed the monster’s enormous body.
The creature writhed inside the inferno, its crimson tendrils lashing wildly through the fire.
Below, S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents widened their perimeter, every eye fixed on the blazing giant.
A Quinjet wasn’t an ordinary aircraft.
Its weapons were designed to engage threats conventional militaries couldn’t handle.
If this level of firepower couldn’t kill a living creature…
…then what could?
The answer emerged from the flames.
Pedoleon stepped forward.
Untouched.
Its armored hide bore no scorch marks.
No bullet impacts.
No visible injuries whatsoever.
The creature shrieked, the piercing cry reverberating across the ruined industrial district as if mocking its attackers.
The bombardment hadn’t merely failed.
It had accomplished absolutely nothing.
The pilot’s voice cracked over the radio.
“Target is unharmed!
Repeat, target is completely unharmed!” Below, Coulson stared in disbelief.
The missiles they’d launched could penetrate armored vehicles.
Against this thing…
…they hadn’t even scratched the surface.
What was this monster?
Pedoleon answered by turning its attention toward the hovering Quinjet.
Its head lowered.
The fleshy antennae near its mouth began glowing a deep orange.
Heat shimmered through the air.
A sphere of fire rapidly condensed between them.
Coulson’s eyes widened.
“Break off!” “Now!” The warning came too late.
The blazing projectile tore across the night sky.
The Quinjet rolled sharply, avoiding a direct hit.
Not enough.
The fireball clipped its tail section.
The engines erupted in a shower of sparks before dying completely.
The aircraft lurched violently and began spiraling toward the ground.
A heartbeat later, the cockpit canopy blasted free.
The pilot ejected.
His parachute blossomed against the night sky as the crippled Quinjet continued its uncontrolled descent.
Richard watched everything unfold from beyond the evacuation perimeter.
His fingers tightened around the Evolution Trust.
The scene unfolding before him felt strangely familiar.
The defense force throws everything it has at the monster.
The monster shrugs it off.
Then Ultraman arrives.
It was practically the opening act of every classic Ultraman story.
He almost laughed.
Guess it’s my cue.
He had never been particularly fond of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Even setting aside the fact that HYDRA had infiltrated nearly every level of the organization, many of its methods clashed with his own principles.
But organizations weren’t made entirely of their worst members.
Most of the people risking their lives tonight were decent men and women trying to protect others.
Phil Coulson was the perfect example.
The kind of person willing to sacrifice himself without hesitation if it meant saving strangers.
Richard wasn’t sure he possessed that kind of selflessness.
He respected it all the same.
As for himself…
He wasn’t trying to become a hero.
He simply couldn’t stand by while people died when he had the power to stop it.
He drew a slow breath.
Then stepped forward.
The Evolution Trust swept upward toward the heavens.
Light erupted.
It exploded into the night like a newborn star.
The brilliant radiance stretched skyward before condensing into a colossal humanoid silhouette.
Silver armor.
A crimson core.
Golden, luminous eyes.
The giant descended in a pillar of light, landing between Pedoleon and the retreating S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents with enough force to shake the earth.
Nexus.
The Space Beast lunged.
Nexus met it head-on.
One hand slammed against Pedoleon’s head, stopping its charge cold.
Without wasting a second, Nexus twisted his hips and drove a crushing front kick into the creature’s softer midsection.
The impact detonated like artillery.
Pedoleon’s massive body was hurled backward through the air before crashing into the shattered remains of the industrial complex.
Dust billowed hundreds of feet into the sky.
The surviving S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents stopped running.
Every one of them stared.
Grant Ward broke the silence first.
“…Is that…” Coulson answered almost reverently.
“Ultraman.” The codename had originated with the Daily Planet.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
had adopted it soon afterward.
At this point, it hardly mattered what the giant was actually called.
Everyone knew exactly who they were looking at.
Nexus glanced toward the rescued agents.
Out of instinct, Richard almost gave them a reassuring nod.
His gaze stopped halfway.
It landed on Grant Ward.
…Seriously?
I just saved him too?
Richard had never liked Ward.
Like most viewers, he’d watched the man’s story unfold knowing exactly what kind of person he would become.
HYDRA operative.
Traitor.
Murderer.
If Richard had realized Ward was standing there a few seconds earlier…
…he might have waited just a little longer before stepping in.
The thought lingered for all of half a second.
No.
That wasn’t how this worked.
Ward was only one infiltrator.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
had plenty more hidden inside its ranks.
There would be time to deal with them later.
Right now…
A Space Beast outranked every secret agent on Earth.
Nexus turned back toward Pedoleon.
The creature was already climbing to its feet.
The real battle…
…was only beginning.