Mesopotamia, 5100 B.C.
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Javier Sánchez, now fully reborn and deeply embedded in the world of Eternals, descended upon Earth with curiosity and unbridled ambition. Though he acted the part of an Eternal, he held secrets that would terrify his newfound companions. His purpose was not purely aligned with theirs; rather, it was a personal mission of exploration and conquest. Earth was young, its civilizations nascent, its people wandering through the first dawn of civilization.
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Arrival in Mesopotamia
The sands of Mesopotamia welcomed Javier with an air of mystery. As he set foot on this ancient land, the humid wind carried with it the whispers of early humans. Mud-brick temples and simple homes filled the landscape, and the rivers Tigris and Euphrates glistened under the sun's warm embrace.
Javier moved among the early Sumerians like a shadow, silently observing the birth of agriculture, the formation of early trade, and the rituals performed to honor unknown gods. He marveled at the ingenuity of these humans, humbled by their struggle for survival, yet fascinated by their determination.
He watched as they invented ways to harness the land, creating a livelihood from little more than dust and water. The struggle and tenacity of these people stirred something within him—a dark, unshakable urge to guide and manipulate their journey. Knowledge became his weapon, whispers his method. To them, he appeared as a mysterious figure that came and went with the wind, leaving behind strange ideas and innovations.
One evening, a group of Sumerian priests spotted him. They were in awe of his regal aura and how his words seemed to carry divine wisdom. He spoke of celestial knowledge and offered them insights that changed their ways. They believed him to be a god, and soon word spread of the "Wandering Divine," who walked among mortals.
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Encountering the Other Eternals
One evening, Javier joined the Eternals under the cover of the starry Mesopotamian night. Ikaris, their warrior leader, looked upon Javier with suspicion. He was unyielding and stern, unable to place this new "Eternal" into their hierarchy. But Sersi, with her gentle and empathetic nature, offered a welcoming smile, sensing in him a complex soul. Thena, with her fierce spirit and strength, observed him carefully, while Kingo and Gilgamesh admired his apparent wisdom.
"This place... it feels different," Javier commented to Ajak, the spiritual leader of the Eternals, as they looked over a small settlement. "It's not as untouched as we once knew it."
Ajak turned to him, her gaze probing. "Humans have changed much. The Celestials have willed that we protect them—but only from the Deviants."
Javier raised a brow. "Only from the Deviants? What if they need more than that? They are fragile creatures."
Ajak's face grew somber. "We do not interfere with their path unless Deviants threaten them. They must grow on their own."
But in Javier's mind, a plan was forming. If the other Eternals would not interfere, then perhaps he could guide these early humans in ways they never anticipated. With every step he took through Mesopotamia, he would impart a piece of his own intellect, shaping the future in ways the Celestials never intended.
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Mastering His Abilities in Secret
While the Eternals focused on warding off Deviant threats, Javier honed his own powers. Using his mastery of mental manipulation, he subtly altered the memories of a few Eternals, implanting a belief that he was indeed one of them—a trusted warrior, one whose very presence on Earth was ordained by the Celestials themselves. This created an air of mystery around him, allowing him the freedom to explore Earth as he pleased.
With this guise in place, he experimented with his powers, discovering new ways to bend reality and memory. He found that he could interact with the Celestial energy that flowed through the Eternals, subtly siphoning off fractions of it to enhance his own powers.
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Crossing the Fertile Crescent
Javier traveled with a select group of early humans, who had taken to calling him the "Silent One" because of his reserved nature and distant demeanor. He led them through the fertile plains of Canaan, instructing them in agriculture, astronomy, and governance. His influence was subtle but profound, guiding these people as they began to form the very bedrock of human society.
In Anatolia, he introduced them to ideas that reshaped their understanding of life and the divine. The humans saw him as a god, an entity beyond comprehension. Javier did not deny this; instead, he embraced it, using his perceived divinity to cement his position as a wise teacher and distant deity. To them, he was a figure of inspiration, power, and mystery.
One evening, by the fireside, he taught them the use of metallurgy, instructing them to forge tools and weapons. The metal glowed like fire under the stars as they hammered it into form, mesmerized by the strength it brought them.
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Arrival in Ancient Egypt
When Javier reached Egypt, he was greeted by a land that was beginning to embrace the power of the Nile. He witnessed the construction of primitive temples, the first glimpses of the civilization that would soon flourish into one of humanity's greatest empires.
Seeing potential in these people, he showed them a new metal he had crafted—a metal imbued with durability and strength, unlike anything they had seen. It became a sacred relic, a gift from a god, as they saw it, and was kept safe in their primitive temples.
While the Eternals kept their focus on the Deviants lurking in the deserts, Javier cultivated a group of worshipers who began to honor him. These humans had an almost fanatic reverence, inspired by his guidance, and built underground shrines in his name. Over the years, a small religion was born—one that saw him as a god of knowledge and protector of humankind.
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The Trek to Ancient Spain
Finally, his journey brought him back to his homeland—ancient Spain. The air was crisp, and the hills reminded him of his own childhood. Here, he constructed a hidden sanctuary, a vast underground base that connected to his hell dimension. Using his powers, he transformed the realm into a paradise filled with creatures from legend and myth—beasts that humans would only ever dream of.
The sanctuary was designed as a refuge, a place where he could cultivate his followers in secrecy, teaching them advanced knowledge, arts, and philosophies that were millennia ahead of their time. The creatures he populated it with—from enormous serpents to winged lions—became part of his legends, symbols of his power and dominion.
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Reflections and Foresight
As he sat upon a stone overlooking his sanctuary, Javier reflected on the paths he had shaped and the minds he had influenced. The other Eternals, focused on Deviant threats, seemed unaware of his grand scheme. He knew it would be years, perhaps centuries, before his influence truly took hold in these fledgling civilizations, but he had time—an eternity, if need be.
He whispered to himself, "They think me a god, but I am something beyond their imagination. In time, I will shape this world as I see fit."
To the ancient humans, he was a benevolent teacher. To himself, he was a god of ambition—a creature not bound by the limitations of mortal or immortal alike. And as the night stretched on, Javier Sánchez's eyes gleamed with the light of a thousand stars, each one representing a thread in the intricate tapestry he was weaving across time.
He would guide these civilizations, mold their beliefs, and one day, when his influence had fully matured, the entire world would be his to command.
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End of Chapter 7