A broad-shouldered man named Phastos wielded a massive, energy-infused hammer, charging directly at the Ancient One. But before he could close the distance, seven hammers of various shapes and sizes intercepted him. They belonged to Bucky Barnes, Werewolf by Night, Morbius, Hancock, Blade, Brian, and Susan Storm.
Even Pietro, who also possessed one of Serpent Kull's enchanted hammers, was busy racing against Makkari to settle their speed duel. Otherwise, Phastos would have faced eight of these divine weapons simultaneously—more than enough to overwhelm him.
Phastos's hammer, while powerful, was no match against the enchanted hammers crafted by the dwarves of Nidavellir and imbued with the power of the former Asgardian king, Serpent Kull. Though Asgardian warriors as a whole may have been weaker than the Eternals, figures like Kull transcended even the mightiest of Eternals. His tools of destruction carried that same legacy.
Surrounded and outnumbered, Phastos found himself entirely suppressed. The seven hammer-wielding heroes took turns battering his weapon and keeping him locked down, barely exerting themselves in the process.
Meanwhile, the most arrogant of the Eternals, Ikaris, had already launched himself into the fray. Kara Zor-El was preparing to face him, intrigued by how similar his powers appeared to those of Kryptonians. However, before she could engage, Sentry intercepted Ikaris mid-flight, delivering a bone-crushing punch that sent the Eternal flying.
"Scoundrel!" roared Ikaris, his pride wounded as he recovered mid-air. His eyes blazed with golden energy, unleashing heat vision toward Sentry.
Sentry, unimpressed, responded in kind. His eyes glowed, firing a beam of energy that met Ikaris's attack head-on.
"Shhhrrr!" The beams clashed in mid-air, but Sentry's energy quickly overpowered Ikaris's. In an instant, the golden beam slammed into Ikaris, narrowly missing his eyes as he dodged. Even so, the blast scorched his shoulder, leaving blackened, smoking flesh in its wake.
"You call that power? With strength like yours, you dare claim to have secretly protected Earth? Stop lying and tell us who you really are!" Sentry demanded, his voice sharp and filled with disdain.
Ikaris's fury boiled over. "How is this possible? How can Earth have such powerful beings?" he muttered to himself, stunned by the overwhelming strength of Sentry and the others.
The memories implanted in Ikaris by the Earth's Dimensional Consciousness had painted a vastly different picture. According to his recollections, Earth's inhabitants were far weaker, incapable of defending themselves against cosmic threats. That was the entire premise behind the Eternals' supposed "sacred mission."
But these false memories were now colliding with reality. How could Earth have produced warriors like Sentry, let alone the Avengers, if humanity was as helpless as his memories claimed?
The truth was simple: Earth's Dimensional Consciousness had fabricated the Eternals' memories to suit its own narrative. In reality, the Eternals had never been Earth's protectors. Their supposed deeds were nothing more than illusions, stories concocted to justify their presence and manipulate their actions.
But the cracks in this narrative were beginning to show. And while Ikaris and his allies were grappling with these contradictions, the battle continued to rage.
Gilgamesh, the strongest of the Eternals, was locked in combat with Bruce Banner in his Hulk form. However, it was clear that Banner's reluctance to fight seriously was putting him at a disadvantage.
When the clash began, Banner had chosen to rely solely on his Hulk strength, believing it would suffice. But Gilgamesh quickly proved him wrong. The Eternal's sheer physical power allowed him to duck under Banner's punch and land a devastating slap across his face, sending the Hulk flying in an ungraceful arc.
"That's humiliating! You're making Hulk look bad!" roared the real Hulk from the sidelines, his pride wounded on behalf of his counterpart.
"Let me handle this!" Banner snapped back, his frustration evident. Though he disliked fighting, he couldn't allow himself to be humiliated like this.
A surge of green energy enveloped Banner as he activated his Green Lantern ring. Channeling its power, he formed enormous, glowing fists of energy and hurled them at Gilgamesh.
"Boom!" The clash was titanic. Gilgamesh's smaller, flesh-and-blood fists met the massive constructs head-on, holding his ground despite the overwhelming force.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, other Eternals were faring no better. Druig, who specialized in mind control, was effortlessly countered by Martian Manhunter's unparalleled psychic defenses. Sprite's illusions crumbled under Peggy Carter's enhanced perception and energy manipulation. Kingo's energy blasts were consumed by the relentless flames of Johnny Storm, whose power had been augmented multiple times.
Thena, the Eternals' most skilled warrior, found herself evenly matched against Steve Rogers. Wielding the combined might of the Shazam powers and a Green Lantern ring, Steve matched Thena weapon for weapon, parrying and countering her every strike.
Meanwhile, Sersi, who could manipulate matter on a fundamental level, clashed with Lorna Dane. Though Sersi's abilities seemed more advanced, Lorna's control over magnetism had evolved significantly after the Mother Box crisis. Their powers neutralized each other, leaving them locked in a stalemate.
Across the battlefield, the Eternals were being systematically outmaneuvered and overpowered. Only Gilgamesh and a handful of others managed to hold their ground. For the rest, the truth was clear: they were outclassed.
The supposed "hidden protectors" of Earth were no match for the Avengers, whose strength and experience far surpassed their own.
Amid the chaos, Ajak, the Eternals' leader, made a bold move. While the others fought, she charged toward the Ancient One, her sights set on the Time Stone.
But Ajak's abilities, while formidable, were primarily focused on healing and support. Against an opponent like the Ancient One, especially one wielding an Infinity Stone, she stood no chance.
The Ancient One easily intercepted her, binding her movements with a spell. But rather than immediately subduing Ajak, the Ancient One hesitated. She had been preparing a spell of her own, one that required time—and Ajak's presence served as the perfect distraction.
High above the battlefield, Robert floated silently, his gaze fixed on the unfolding conflict. He had yet to make a move, his attention focused on one goal: finding the Earth's Dimensional Consciousness.
If the Dimensional Consciousness was truly the mastermind behind the Eternals' sudden reappearance, Robert intended to flush it out.
"Are you ready?" the Ancient One's voice echoed in Robert's mind.
"Yes," he replied, his expression sharpening.
"Whirrrr!" The Time Stone began to glow, its emerald light casting long shadows across the battlefield. Tendrils of temporal energy surged outward, wrapping around each of the Eternals.
"What's happening?!"
The Eternals struggled against the magic, but one by one, they were ensnared. Even Gilgamesh, despite his immense strength, could not escape the Time Stone's grip.
In an instant, the battlefield transformed. The Eternals felt as though they were being pulled backward through the river of time, their pasts unraveling before their eyes.
The Ancient One had activated the Time Stone's power, rewinding the Eternals' personal timelines in search of the truth.
Memories long buried—or perhaps fabricated—were laid bare for all to see. The events of the past, hidden behind the veil of manipulation, began to resurface.
Robert's eyes gleamed as he observed the revelations unfolding. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Through the power of time, the secrets of the Eternals—and the Earth's Dimensional Consciousness—would finally come to light.
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