Count Nefaria’s Final Act

Kara’s Kryptonian Heat Vision violently collided with Count Nefaria’s laser beams in midair.

The air was torn apart in that instant. The energy unleashed by the two scarlet beams sent everything around them flying; tables and chairs were shredded and destroyed, smashing fiercely into the walls.

The bar’s floor began to crack, deep fissures spreading outward like a spiderweb before finally stopping at the rubble by the entrance.

Even space twisted slightly where the two energies intertwined. Red energy rippled through the air like waves on water, and the blinding, brilliant light appeared exceptionally magnificent.

"Supergirl, I’ll help you." Pietro clenched his Vibranium arm.

Though Pietro could not fully unleash his combat ability in the cramped confines of the bar, his speed was nothing to scoff at. With both arms restored, his full-speed bursts were no slower than Quicksilver from other parallel universes.

Scarlet energy beams filled Count Nefaria’s vision, leaving him with nothing but a blurred scene.

Whirling currents of air tore through the bar. All Count Nefaria could hear beside him was the howling wind, the kind that could only arise when tremendous power was unleashed.

He had not used his superpowers in a very long time. The ion energy that had once obeyed him as easily as his own limbs now felt as thick as honey, difficult to command.

Brilliant light covered his entire field of vision. Count Nefaria let out a low growl, attempting to unleash even greater power.

Suddenly, a sense of danger rose within him. Count Nefaria clenched his fists to defend himself, but he was too slow. A burning pain flared across his face, and then the world before his eyes began to spin.

He crashed heavily onto the ground. Count Nefaria braced himself with both hands, struggling not to collapse completely. He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and glanced in confusion at the person who had ambushed him.

A metallic sheen reflected beneath the bar’s shattered fluorescent lights. Count Nefaria felt his mind becoming sluggish, his once-sharp thoughts turning to mush.

Who was he? How did he attack me?

Is this my blood?

Old Count Nefaria opened his mouth. Blood trailed down in thin strands and dripped onto the floor, clearing his mind slightly.

Right, it was Colossus!

The X-Men’s superheroes.

They had come to cause trouble for him, just like before, just as they had always done.

Kara stopped her Heat Vision in time. Otherwise, Pietro, who had rushed in to launch a close-range attack, would certainly have been caught in the crossfire. After working together for some time, the two had developed a little coordination.

"It’s over, Count."

Pietro raised his hand, his Vibranium arm gripping Count Nefaria’s shoulder.

"Not yet!"

Count Nefaria roared, and immense force suddenly surged from the Vibranium arm. Pietro was startled to discover that Count Nefaria had somehow erupted with tremendous strength. The next moment, a sensation of weightlessness struck him, and he was flung away.

The suddenly explosive Count Nefaria looked dazed. He stiffly steadied himself, but the pain throughout his body and his clouded mind made it difficult to think. He swayed as he turned around, his hunched body trembling faintly.

"You… You can’t stop me… I… I will…"

Old Count Nefaria panted heavily, his dim and vacant gaze fixed on Kara’s position. Through his hazy, blurred vision, he vaguely saw a familiar woman. He knew her. He remembered her. She was Carol Danvers.

Count Nefaria found his bearings and let out a beastlike howl before lunging at Kara.

Kara neither dodged nor retreated. She clenched both fists and met him head-on. The two traded blows, their punches packed with immense force and aimed directly at each other’s faces.

This was not an evenly matched battle. If Count Nefaria had been in his prime, his refined fighting skills would have been enough to suppress the girl before him. But he could no longer do that. His sluggish mind was gradually unable to keep up with Kara’s rapid, fierce attacks.

At first, Count Nefaria could still sidestep Kara’s punches and find openings to counterattack. But little by little, his arms became increasingly stiff.

When Kara caught him off guard and landed a punch squarely in Count Nefaria’s eye socket, he lost all ability to resist.

But Kara did not seem prepared to stop there. She knew all too well how powerful these supervillains had been in their youth. She exchanged a glance with Pietro, and in the next instant, Pietro struck, launching Count Nefaria into the air.

Kara leaped up after him, catching up to his airborne body. Just as he was about to hit the ceiling, she clasped her hands together and smashed him down with all her strength.

—!

Wood splinters flew as Count Nefaria crashed heavily into the bar floor, smashing a deep crater into it.

He could no longer get back up.

Count Nefaria’s gaze gradually lost focus. In his vision, the broken lamp swaying overhead began to multiply into afterimages, and its waxy yellow light became the only dominant color he could see.

Sprawled in the crater in the floor, blood continuously flowed from the corner of Count Nefaria’s mouth. He found it difficult even to breathe, able only to make meaningless groans with each breath.

"It’s time for the curtain to fall."

Beside the bar counter, Zhang Ye drained the last drop of wine and slowly set his glass down.

Only then did Zhang Ye rise to his feet.

His expression somewhat solemn, Zhang Ye looked toward Count Nefaria and began walking toward him, one slow step at a time.

Zhang Ye’s steps were slow. Each footfall seemed to land upon Count Nefaria’s weakening heartbeat.

At death’s door, Count Nefaria’s vision blurred.

Then clear footsteps reached him, stirring a response from his hazy mind.

Sensing someone approach, Count Nefaria forcibly gathered his remaining focus, trying to stay awake. He used all his strength to turn his head slightly, wanting to see who had come.

Within the waxy yellow haze, a black figure gradually took shape.

In Count Nefaria’s final gaze, he saw Doctor Strange approaching him slowly, his fingers forming a spell seal.

His red cloak swayed with his body, green magical energy dancing at his fingertips. Every step Stephen Strange took was his final sentence.

Count Nefaria’s lips moved.

"I’m… sorry…"

Two streams of tears ran from the corners of his eyes to his ears. At last, Count Nefaria had no life left in him.