While keeping an eye on Fan Fei was tempting, my curiosity got the better of me as I scanned for other intriguing events. It wasn't long before I sensed a faint, malevolent presence, a rarity given the lack of means of travel. Narrowing my focus. Tracing its source, I found myself observing a desolate clearing in a frozen region, where a boy knelt amidst the charred remains of his people. His hollow eyes spoke of grief and desperation.
Slithering toward him was a snake, emanating a sinister aura.
The snake coiled itself around the boy's arm, its eyes glowing faintly red as it spoke in a sinister yet oddly soothing voice.
"You seek justice, do you not? Revenge for those you have lost?" the snake hissed, its forked tongue flickering.
The boy nodded blankly as if he was not aware of the danger near him.
"I can grant you the power to punish the one responsible," the snake continued, tightening its coils. "Power like none you have ever known. But it comes at a price: you must guess my name."
The boy looked skeptical at first but then nodded, desperation overriding caution. "What happens if I get it wrong?"
"Oh, then you'll simply remain as you are, powerless, broken. But if you guess correctly..." The snake loosened its grip, slithering onto the ground before transforming into a towering, smirking figure cloaked in shadow. "I'll grant you a gift worthy of your pain. A bond with an ancient force, one that will give you the strength to make him suffer."
The boy hesitated for only a moment before he spoke. "Your name is Snake."
The devil's smile widened, and a burst of hellfire erupted around them.
"Ah, you clever little mortal," Mephisto said with a chuckle. "Very well. You have won my gift and my curse."
Mephisto, obviously, who else? I couldn't help but facepalm. I hadn't encountered him personally yet, mostly because I wasn't eager to take a field trip to Hell just yet. But someday, I planned to compare the Nether to Hell myself.
"What's going on here?" I muttered, observing the scene closely. Mephisto and the boy had just sealed some sort of deal. "Why would he make a deal with a boy of all people?"
My question was answered the next moment.
The boy's body convulsed, his flesh beginning to blacken and crack, not from burning, but as though flames were manifesting within him. His very being ignited, orange flames licking at his skin before consuming it entirely, leaving behind a skeletal figure wreathed in roaring fire.
This was no ordinary possession. The energy swirling around him was unmistakable, he had bonded with a Spirit of Vengeance. But it wasn't Zarathos, the infamous Spirit of Justice-turned-vengeful.
The Stone Age Ghost Rider's appearance was nothing short of terrifying. His skull burned with hellfire, the heat so intense it distorted the air around him. Hollow eye sockets glowed with malevolent fire, and jagged cracks in his bones radiated with molten light.
"Mephisto, you crafty bastard," I murmured, my mind racing with questions. "How the Nether did you get your hands on a Spirit of Vengeance? And why give it to a boy?" But honestly, I want to thank Mephisto since he just gave Earth another champion, and a pretty powerful one on that, a Ghost Rider.
"And now, my vengeful friend," Mephisto said with a mock bow, "go forth and reap your justice. Or perhaps... your vengeance."
Even as I watched this unfold, I couldn't help but shake my head. Trust Mephisto to add riddles and drama to an already over-the-top deal. But what was concerning was that Mephisto could travel to Earth without being detected easily, and he might even have more Spirits of Vengeance back in hell.
But whatever, I will need to keep an eye on our skeletal and fiery friend and the so-called Devil, Mephisto.
"Ghost Rider, Odin, Iron Fist, the ones left are Black Panther, Phoenix, and Sorcerer Supreme."
Though he didn't know when they would come, mutants or metas were emerging but not much or strong enough to be placed as Earth's champions, and Omega-level ones were even rarer.
As for Sorcerer Supreme—
"Are you bored of my sister, Herobrine?"
The teasing tone belonged to none other than Oshtur. I froze.
"What are you talking about, Oshtur?" I replied without turning toward her. "I obviously love Gaia. I can't even think of getting bored of her. She's my adorable, wonderful wife, and I would do anything for her."
"Really?" she said, her voice dripping with suspicion. "Then why, pray tell, are you peeking at a human woman bathing?"
"Bathing?" I repeated, confused, before glancing back at the scrying ball.
And there it was—Fan Fei, she had entered a natural hot spring, revealing her tanned, glistening skin as steam rose around her. Her toned muscles, sculpted from years of rigorous training, reflected her warrior spirit. She had a grace and poise that seemed almost divine, strong, confident, and undeniably beautiful.
I blinked. Forgetting that the scrying was still keeping an eye on Fan while I used my magical senses to keep an eye on Mephisto since he would not be able to feel my magic.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no.
"Wait, this isn't what it looks like!" I stammered, waving my hands as though trying to physically dispel the image. "I was tracking Mephisto! This is, this is an accident!"
Oshtur crossed her arms, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "An accident, hmm? Is that why you have been staring at her for so long that even the steam seems jealous?"
I sputtered, trying to form a coherent response. "I wasn't staring! I was… monitoring the area! Yes, monitoring for any infernal energy signatures!"
"Uh-huh," she replied, her smirk widening. "Tell me, Herobrine, do infernal energy signatures usually take the form of tanned warriors soaking in hot springs?"
Her teasing was relentless, and I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "Oshtur, I swear, this is a misunderstanding. I would never—"
Before I could finish, Oshtur cut me off. "Relax, Ender. I know you're not that kind of man. But..." Her tone shifted, growing sly. "You are quite lucky Gaia wasn't the one to catch you."
I froze for a moment, considering the implication, before letting out a low chuckle. "Actually, Gaia wouldn't care about something like this."
Oshtur blinked, surprised by my candidness. "She wouldn't?" A smile appeared on her face soon.
"Not in the way you are imagining, no," I admitted, though I wasn't about to elaborate further. Gaia and I had an understanding, but that wasn't something Oshtur needed to know.
Gaia had a different perspective in this case.
Oshtur tilted her head, her curiosity evident. "Interesting. Most goddesses are... less open-minded."
I shrugged nonchalantly, redirecting the topic. "That's Gaia for you."
Oshtur seemed to mull this over, then her expression turned contemplative. "You know," she began, her voice casual but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper, "you and Gaia created a child as powerful as Atum. A being born of two cosmic entities with unparalleled potential."
"Obviously," I said, puffing my chest with pride. "He is my son, after all."
She smiled faintly at my response, then added, "It does make one wonder what other combinations might yield similarly extraordinary results. Perhaps... you and I, for instance."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?"
Her smile widened, playful but enigmatic. "Hypothetically speaking, of course," she said, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her robe.
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "Nice one, Oshtur. You almost had me there."
Her gaze lingered on me, the playfulness in her expression unwavering. "Almost?"
"Come on, Oshtur," I said, waving her off. "You have got a good sense of humor, I'll give you that."
As I turned back to the scrying ball, she walked away with a faint chuckle. "We'll see who is joking, Herobrine," she murmured under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
I paused for a moment, glancing over my shoulder, but she was already gone.
"She's definitely up to something," I muttered, dismissing the thought with a shake of my head. Whatever it was, I didn't have the time or the energy to unravel Oshtur's schemes right now. After all, I still had Mephisto and a fiery new champion to deal with.
But before I could look more I felt something and...it was not good.
My senses tingled with an alarming disturbance—an asteroid. Not just any asteroid, but one so massive it could easily wipe out all life on a portion of Earth if it hit.
"Oh, come on," I groaned, running a hand down my face. "Another asteroid? Really? Did Earth sign up for some cosmic target practice that I'm unaware of?"
Tuning into its trajectory, I quickly calculated the impact zone and time. If this thing hit, it wouldn't just wipe out a region, it could destabilize the entire planet's ecosystems. Yet, the energy radiating from the asteroid wasn't ordinary. It pulsed with a faint, otherworldly glow, unlike anything I had felt before.
As annoyed as I was, I couldn't ignore the pattern. Asteroids always seemed to bring two outcomes to Earth: mass extinction or an evolution of power (sometimes both). The last time something like this happened, life on Earth gained an overpowered dinosaur as its protector.
"Well, we are not going with option one," I said, stretching my arms. "Let's see what cosmic gift this one's bringing."
Heading to an open area of the palace, I crouched and launched myself skyward with a superhero jump, the impact reverberating slightly against the palace's enchanted architecture.
As I ascended through the atmosphere, I unfurled my wings, their radiant expanse cutting through the sky like a comet. I soared higher, the cold embrace of the upper atmosphere pressing against me as I approached the asteroid.
When I got closer, what caught my attention was it was weird.
"Vibranium," I muttered, my eyes narrowing, as I recognized the similar signature.
This asteroid wasn't just a harbinger of destruction, it was carrying Vibranium, one of the most versatile and powerful metals in existence. It would be the catalyst for Earth's future technological and mystical advancements.
But first, I had to ensure it didn't obliterate everything in its path.
"All right, big guy," I said, cracking my knuckles as I floated in the asteroid's shadow. "Let's slow you down a little, shall we?"
I used my energy to create a barrier around the asteroid, siphoning off its momentum while guiding its trajectory. This wasn't about stopping it; it had to land in the right place, somewhere the Vibranium could integrate into the planet's crust without catastrophic consequences and not far from its destiny, ensuring it would land in a remote part of what would one day be Africa.
As the asteroid descended, its glowing trail lit up the night sky like a falling star. I followed it down, making sure the landing was smooth or as smooth as crashing into a planet could be.
~~~~~~
Black Panther ✓
Iron Fist ✓
Ghost Rider ✓
Odin ✓
Starbrand ✓
Agamotto work in progress
Lady Phoenix work in progress.
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