Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Trials and Resolve

Days passed, and Arthur overheard Winky discussing Ariadne’s difficulties during her raids.

“Maybe slow down a bit,” he advised. “Don’t make the Hand desperate.”

But she was riding the high of her recent successes and wasn’t inclined to listen.

That afternoon, as Arthur read a challenging book on algorithms, he felt the familiar presence of someone entering the ward. It wasn’t an intruder—it was Winky and Ariadne returning.

Yet something was wrong. The energy signature felt jagged.

He found them in the living room, Winky supporting a bloodied Ariadne toward the healing room.

“What happened?” he asked.

Ariadne grimaced, favoring her left side. “Difficult battle.”

Arthur moved closer, noting bullet grazes, knife cuts, and dried blood. “You haven’t been this hurt in months. Have you gotten sloppy?”

She accepted the healing potion he offered and downed it in one bitter gulp. “The Hand’s gone insane. They’re armed to the teeth now—military-grade weapons, enhanced soldiers at every location, kill squads instead of guards. Every raid is a fight for my life.”

“Was it not like this before?” Arthur asked.

“No. Before it was just ordinary gang members. Few guns and lots of blades.”

“Maybe your constant attacks made them change tactics.”

“Maybe, but it feels wrong. Earlier, it felt like they feared killing me. Now, they don’t.”

“When did this escalation start?”

“About a week ago. Maybe two. It’s like someone flipped a switch.”

“I might have an idea why this is happening.” Realization dawned on Arthur. “Maybe they’re now certain I won’t involve myself in your battles. Fury asked me about you recently, and from him it would have somehow reached the Hand. So now, without fear of my retaliation, they’re going all out against you.”

“So I should thank you for the easier battles earlier?” she scoffed.

“As you wish.”

“But before I met you, I was doing fine. I think your influence has made me careless. I’m not as cautious now.”

“Yes, but without me, you wouldn’t have achieved half as much as you have.”

“Why are you saying all this? Do you want me to kneel and thank you?” she snapped.

“Hey, you’re the one who started the questions.”

Silence hung between them. Winky busied herself treating Ariadne’s wounds. With so much experience, she had become adept at healing.

“Winky is getting very good at this,” the elf muttered, cleaning a particularly nasty gash. “Too good. Miss Ari is making Winky into a healer instead of a house-elf. Other house elves would be so confused.”

Arthur watched as Winky worked. “So what are your future plans? Knowing things are going to be difficult, are you planning to continue?”

“Yes. I already stepped back once by not hitting their headquarters again. If I back down now, I’ll never advance in my martial path. Sometimes you have to walk through fire to reach the other side.”

“You could rest, you know. Wait for them to slack and then attack. That’s not backing down. That’s just being smart.”

“No, I plan to continue.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

Ariadne’s eyes met his, dark and challenging. “Maybe. Will you be sad if I die? Will you take revenge for me and destroy the Hand if I die?”

Arthur smirked. “Someone’s trying to find shortcuts to finish her life’s goal. But unfortunate for you—you won’t die. Winky will ensure that, right, Winky?”

Winky’s eyes sparkled with resolve. “Winky will take Miss Ari away from danger! Miss Ari will never die under Winky’s watch! Winky promised herself this. Winky has saved Miss Ari seventeen times now—Winky keeps count! Will save her seventeen hundred times if needed!”

“Thank you?” Ariadne said, uncertain whether to be touched or concerned.

“So no shortcuts,” Arthur warned. “If you want to destroy the Hand, you’ll have to do it yourself. Be ready for the pain. Even though Winky can save you every time, she can’t shield you from the injuries.”

Ariadne joked darkly, “Now I feel dying might have been better.”

“Forget that thought now, Miss Ariadne. You have no chance to die. Even with one breath left, Winky and I can save you.”

“Winky has special healing potions ready always!” Winky added proudly. “Master’s best ones! And Winky learned the stabilizing charms Master taught. Miss Ari could lose all her blood and Winky would still save her!”

Arthur reached into his pouch. “By the way, take this.” He pulled out a sleek black bodysuit that seemed to absorb light. Kree military armor he’d acquired during his Hala visits.

She examined it with professional interest. “What is it?”

“Alien tech,” Arthur replied casually. “Adaptive armor, stronger than anything Earth has. It should keep your injuries to a minimum.”

Ariadne traced the fabric with her fingers. “When you said aliens are real and that you regularly visit another planet, I thought you were joking—or making excuses. I didn’t think it was actually true.”

“I never lie,” Arthur said with a half-smile. “Joke, maybe. But never lie.”

“Any weapons to go with it?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

Arthur shook his head. “I want you to be safe—and not attract more attention. Shiny weapons would only bring trouble. This armor won’t have that issue. So be happy with it.”

Ariadne nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

Arthur chuckled. “Maybe you can finish the underworld cleanup I gave up halfway through. That’ll be repayment enough.”

Ariadne smiled despite herself, then tucked the armor away.

Arthur inspected WInky’s healing work and seeing no problems, he returned to his study room.

Looking at the piles of books, Arthur groaned and wished there could be many of him to help study and experiment. But unfortunately—

The thought stopped him cold.

Maybe he could.

—

Another three months passed.

Arthur worked on his new idea while continuing his studies in science and technology. Ariadne was still alive and still went on raids every other day, but Arthur could see frustration building in her eyes.

She was having mixed results now. Some raids succeeded, but equally many failed. Without Winky’s interventions, she wouldn’t have survived half of them. But she kept going, refusing to stop.

The Hand was adapting, learning, but still suffering. Neither side could claim victory. Every time they were close to defeating Ardiane, somehow she disappeared right in front of their eyes only to return again a few nights later all better.

Then the call came—one he had been waiting for.

“It’s done,” Carol announced without preamble. “Dar-Benn controls Hala.”

Arthur leaned back. “A month late. Something happen?”

“One faction rebuilt chemical weapons after we disabled them, then used them in battle. She had to spend time fixing that mess.”

Arthur smirked. “People are resourceful when desperate. So, when’s the coronation?”

“Tomorrow. Want to make a trip?”

“Sure. I’ll pick you up.”

The next day, Arthur collected Carol from the Rambeau farm and opened a portal to Hala’s upper atmosphere.

They floated hidden in the clouds, and below them, the capital celebrated.

Arthur could see recent damage to the city—scorch marks, collapsed buildings, streets still being cleared—but now it was over. Time for the Kree to rebuild.

“Your work here is done,” Carol said. “Mine’s just beginning.”

“Captain Marvel, the cosmic superhero?”

“I like the sound of that,” Carol smiled. “Do you need anything from space? I noticed your fascination with Kree technology.”

Arthur grinned. “Many things, but I’ll manage. Though I do need your help with something.”

“Anything.”

“It’s simple,” Arthur said. “Whenever you step onto a new planet, give me a call. I’ll come there through you.”

Carol’s eyes narrowed. “Feels weird. What’s your plan?”

Arthur’s smile widened. “I want to create anchor points—magical markers I can use to portal instantly. A network of jump points across the universe would be invaluable.”

Carol burst into laughter. “Arthur Hayes, interdimensional tourist. Sure, I’ll call. Might be useful having backup on demand if things get complicated.”

“Exactly my thinking.” Arthur chuckled. “And instead of international vacations, I’ll have intergalactic ones.”

“You have weird thoughts and ideas.”

“It’s the wizard in me,” he quipped.

They watched the ceremony together, but midway through, Arthur’s eyes sharpened.

“What happened?” Carol asked.

“I need to go back to Earth,” Arthur said abruptly.

“Danger?”

“Maybe. But I can handle it. Do you want to stay or need a ride back?”

“I’ll stay,” she replied. “My spaceship’s nearby. I can fly back later.”

Arthur nodded. Without another word, he left.

Carol stood alone at the observation point, gazing down at Hala’s celebrations. In the distance, Dar-Benn addressed her people, speaking of rebuilding, strength, and the future.

Of empire.

The cycle would begin again. But this time, Carol would be watching.

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