"However, we will return," Arishem's voice echoed, his colossal figure slowly fading into the void. "Your strength has exceeded our expectations, but the universe must return to its rightful course. When we meet again, we will eliminate all anomalies and restore the balance of the cosmos."
"Restore balance?" Robert raised an eyebrow, staring intently at Arishem's vanishing form. "What exactly is your idea of balance? Is it Thanos snapping his fingers with all six Infinity Stones, or Darkseid conquering the universe? Or perhaps, for you Celestials, balance means turning every planet into nothing more than an incubator for your kind, with the sole purpose of birthing more Celestials?"
"Everything in the universe has a lifespan," Arishem replied, his tone calm and unshaken. "Cycles of creation and destruction have always existed. Even our universe, unique as it may be, is not exempt from these principles."
"'Our universe is unique'? So you're admitting that you're no longer part of it? You fled to another universe?" Robert asked, his tone indifferent. He wasn't surprised by the mention of alternate universes. His experiences in the Dragon Ball world had exposed him to the concept of multiple universes, whether it was parallel universes or entirely different timelines.
However, the critical question was, which universe had the Celestials fled to? If Robert could shatter the edge of this universe, would he find himself in a neighboring one? Or would he end up in the void between universes, with no idea which direction to go to find the Celestials?
These questions swirled in Robert's mind, yet the answers remained elusive. Despite his incredible strength, which was sufficient to destroy planets with ease, breaking through the barriers of the universe and traversing its layers required far greater power—power that he had yet to obtain.
"Even with your abilities, you cannot find us," Arishem said, his form becoming increasingly translucent. "Just as the stars in the cosmos are innumerable, so too are the universes. Without transcending the boundaries of the cosmos or obtaining something that can guide you across them, you won't even be able to identify which universe is which."
With that final declaration, Arishem's projection completely dissipated, leaving behind only silence and darkness. Robert remained motionless, his expression thoughtful. He hadn't bothered to stop the projection from disappearing; it was merely an avatar, a fragment of Arishem's power. Destroying it would serve no purpose.
As the black void surrounding them faded, the group found themselves back in front of the stone wall. The once-glowing glyphs were now dull and lifeless, as if the Celestial's presence had erased all their power.
"Is it… over?" Ajak asked hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly as she turned to Robert.
"It's over," Robert said with a slight nod. His expression was calm, though inwardly he was still piecing together everything he had learned. He had hoped to use this opportunity to lure out the Earth's Dimensional Consciousness or at least uncover its weaknesses. However, to his disappointment, the entity had stayed hidden, likely too cautious to reveal itself.
When Arishem had appeared, Robert thought there might have been some interaction between the Celestial and the Dimensional Consciousness. Yet no such connection had been made. It was clear that the Earth's Dimensional Consciousness had no intention of exposing itself, leaving Robert frustrated but resolute.
For now, it seemed the Consciousness had chosen the path of total hibernation, waiting for either the Celestials to return or for itself to evolve further before making any moves. In its absence, the situation was back to square one—just as if the Eternals and Deviants had never surfaced in the first place.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Ajak said, her voice filled with relief and gratitude as she bowed to Robert. The other Eternals followed her lead, their expressions filled with both awe and respect.
If there had been any doubt before, the encounter with Arishem solidified one thing: Robert's power was beyond comprehension. He had forced the Celestials—the so-called architects of life and death in the universe—to flee entirely. In the eyes of the Eternals, this Saiyan had become a figure of unfathomable strength.
"You're free now," Robert said, his tone even. "Leave a way for us to contact you. You've earned your freedom, but if trouble comes your way, you may need us."
Ajak nodded quickly. "Of course. We owe you everything. We'll provide a method to stay in touch."
She handed Robert a small device resembling a bracelet. It glowed faintly with the Eternals' unique energy signature, serving as a direct link to them.
With that, the Eternals departed, choosing to leave Earth behind. They would either find a planet to call their own or drift through space as nomads. Regardless of their path, their story on Earth had come to an end.
As the Eternals' ship vanished into the stars, another figure hesitated, his eyes filled with resolve. Sentry stepped forward, looking directly at Robert. "Can I join you?" he asked, his voice both hopeful and uncertain.
His request caught everyone's attention. For someone like Sentry—who had just witnessed Robert's strength firsthand—the decision to follow him seemed natural. The events of the day, from fighting the Deviants to the shocking confrontation with Arishem, had left Sentry deeply shaken.
But it wasn't fear that motivated him. It was inspiration. Sentry had always dreamed of being a true hero, someone who could rise above petty politics and become a beacon of hope. The Avengers, even in their controversial state, represented the ideal he aspired to.
"You're a bit late," Robert said with a smirk, his tone light but not unkind. "If you'd come earlier, we'd have welcomed you with open arms. But things are different now. The Avengers… we've stepped back. If you want to be a hero, you don't need us anymore."
Steve Rogers stepped forward, placing a hand on Sentry's shoulder. "He's right. The world doesn't need the Avengers in the spotlight anymore. But if Earth has someone like you to protect it, we'll rest a lot easier."
Sentry's cheeks flushed slightly, embarrassed by the Captain's praise. "I… I don't think I'm anywhere near as good as you."
Steve smiled warmly. "No one is perfect. But you've got what it takes."
Tony Stark chimed in, his voice tinged with seriousness. "You're not going to find us on the frontlines anymore, Sentry. But we'll support you from the shadows. Equipment, intel, resources—whatever you need, we'll have your back."
"Really? Thank you! I won't let you down!" Sentry's excitement was palpable. Despite his immense strength, he looked like a child who had just been handed the keys to his dream.
As the conversation wound down, Robert suddenly turned to Sentry with a new proposal. "There's something else. Before the Eternals interrupted us, we were preparing for something far more dangerous. We're hunting Darkseid. Interested?"
Sentry blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Darkseid? The guy who tried to invade Earth with the Parademons?"
"That's the one," Steve replied. "And we've got a score to settle."
"Darkseid's not just a threat to Earth," Tony added. "He's a threat to everything. If you're serious about joining us, this will be your first test."
Sentry clenched his fists, his determination hardening. "I'm in. Let's take him down."
Robert smiled faintly, his aura surging as he turned toward the horizon. "Good. Then it's time to pay Apocalypse a visit."
The hunt for Darkseid had resumed. And this time, they weren't holding anything back.
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